Michael Chamberlain lived half his life an ordinary man. He was 36 when his daughter disappeared in 1980 from a Northern Territory camping ground. He spent the remaining extraordinary 36 years of his life in the shadow of Uluru.
Despite his many supporters who said he was a tower who overcame huge adversity, he had no wish to shake free. Even in death.
The yellow 1977 Torana hatchback used in the 1988 film Evil Angels about the disappearance of Azaria Chamberlain was parked outside the Avondale College Seventh Day Adventist Church for Mr Chamberlain's memorial service on Monday.
Inside, there were photos, including Mr Chamberlain sitting on Uluru in short-shorts de rigueur circa 1980, his books about Australia's most famous infamous miscarriage of justice: including Beyond Azaria: Black Light White Light; his black and white Triumph motorcycle, boots, leathers and helmet and from his rural block outside town came eucalypt branches, two chainsaws and a fuel can, spades and rakes.
His wife, invalid Ingrid came in a wheelchair and spoke. His first wife Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton came with her husband Rick and did not speak.
While the past hovered like a spectre, Avondale was an especially bitter sweet spot for his farewell.
It was here that he studied theology, met Lindy; and it was here the couple returned after coroner Dennis Barrett agreed with the Chamberlains that a dingo had taken their daughter; and it was here that Michael Chamberlain returned to bring up their children, first Aidan and Reagan, then daughter Kahlia born under guard in Darwin Hospital in 1982 after Lindy Chamberlain had been jailed for killing Azaria.
There were testimonies from his son Aidan, stepchildren Juanita and Jamie; his brother Peter Chamberlain, Evil Angels author John Bryson, former Herald reporter Malcolm Brown, and friends.
Many of the SDA friends, who supported the Chamberlains over the years of inquiries and jail, were among the 600 mourners in attendance. Earlier, Mr Chamberlain's funeral was a private affair. He died following complications from leukaemia at Gosford Hospital on January 9.
The memorial service was also the big chance for the SDA Church to underscore the injustices that had been visited upon their most famous Australian but born-in-New Zealand son.
The conjoint associate professor at Avondale College of Higher Education Dr Norman Young said Mr Chamberlain had been a decent man harshly treated.
"He sought sympathy but was greeted with derision; he sought love but was greeted with hostility, and he sought justice but received prejudice. So where were you Lord? You were present through those lawyers, journalists, politicians and Christians and ordinary members of the public," he said.
Stuart Tipple, friend and Mr Chamberlain's solicitor since 1980, said Mr Chamberlain had confided that despite the convictions being overturned and the compensation he still awaited an apology from the Northern Territory government. He had also been stymied in attempts to have a memorial for Azaria at Uluru.
Mr Tipple said in retrospect the first coroner Mr Barrett had got it right.
"[He said] here was a family that was much maligned. There was rumour upon rumour," Mr Tipple said.
"With the finding of the first inquest, the coroner created legal history by televising it [his judgment], thinking that would be the end, thinking that would help put them on the road to rehabilitation. He apologised to them. He made the observation that Michael had been subjected to the most awful rumour and innuendo ever witnessed in this country."
Azaria Chamberlain disappeared from the family tent in August 1980 at Ayers Rock camping ground, sparking one of Australia's most sensational legal cases.
The Chamberlains were ultimately charged over their baby's disappearance, Lindy with murder and Michael for being an accessory after the fact.
They were exonerated in 1988 and separated in 1990.
Michael Chamberlain went on to marry Ingrid Bergner in 1994 and had a daughter, Zahra.
Ingrid Chamberlain suffered a stroke in 2012 and Mr Chamberlain quit teaching to care for her.
Photographs shown at the memorial service sweeping from the 1960s, through the 1970s, 1980s and beyond captured the family that became part of Australia's collective memories.
Michael, his first wife Lindy and their children appeared in a sort of Women's Weekly idyll, his not infrequently in a swimming costume; other times he was portrayed hunting and fishing and running.
There was a stunning and sad gallery of photographs taken at Uluru and some from the trial that showed a family going down.
There were also celebrity shots with Sam Neill (who portrayed him in Evil Angels) and Ray Martin.
Then came photos from his new life with Ingrid and their children and the conferring of his PhD from the University of Newcastle before a video showed him riding way on his motorbike.
