LifeForce Memorial Service 2008

07 October 2008

Sydney Harbour was a buzz of activity at noon on Wednesday October 1st – holiday makers, tourists, city workers enjoying their lunch break, boats out on the harbour – with the warm October sun blazing down on this bright, busy scene.

And amidst this display of pulsing life, other lives gathered to remember lives lost.

LifeForce held its annual Memorial Service on the Northern Broadwalk of the Opera House, bringing together a range of people who have been affected by suicide and its tragic aftermath.

Television presenter and LifeForce ambassador, Jessica Rowe, was MC for this very moving, special service and guest speakers included Rev Keith Garner; Nova FM radio presenter, Bianca Dye; former Wallaby player, ‘Topo’ Rodriguez; and actress and LifeForce patron, Paula Duncan.

Having permission to grieve the loss of loved ones was a strong theme throughout the service. The need to break the silence on the issue of suicide and mental illnesses such as depression was also highlighted. Topo, who has struggled with bipolar disorder, spoke about the connection to his family that prevented him from taking his own life. He stressed the need to bring hidden illness, like bipolar, into the light. Bianca told of how she spent her childhood and teen years talking her mother, who had bipolar, out of suicide about once a month. She developed a knack of ‘joking’ or ‘clowning’ her mother out of suicidal thoughts.

Keith spoke about the very real grief we witness in the biblical accounts of Jesus: Mary when encountering Jesus’ empty tomb, knowing he was gone and how she would miss him, Jesus weeping over the death of his friend, Lazareth. He reminded us that the shortest verse in the Bible, ‘Jesus wept’, shows the need for humans to be given permission to grieve: “If its okay for the Son of God to cry then its okay for me to cry and its okay for you to cry”.

Poignant moments infused the service: the ritual of scattering sunflowers into the harbour in memory of lost loved ones, observing a minute’s silence, the releasing of a dove along with a benediction at the close of the service and Deni Hines’ performance of two songs, Don’t Quit and New Day, which encapsulated two very different yet real aspects of grief.

After the service mourners had the opportunity to share tea and coffee together and counsellors and pastoral staff from Wesley Mission were on hand to attend those grieving.

They were also encouraged to leave a message of love and remembrance on the online memorial wall.

The sense of togetherness and comfort of the service gave a clear message to those gathered: ‘You are not alone’.

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Opera House forecourt	Musical items by flutist trio
Rev Keith Garner speaking	Toppo Rodriguez and Rev Garner
Friends and loved ones honoured	Sunflowers honour loved ones