Dear Natalie,
It was a Thursday morning exactly 39 years ago that dad told me that our mum had passed. There are only a few moments that I remember about that day. I saw him at the gate speaking to mum’s friend Angie, who I assume had come by as soon as she heard. It was right after that that he came inside to tell me — I was putting on my shoes because we were supposed to be visiting her in the hospital.
I cried for what felt like forever, and I recall a tear running down his cheek as he held me. I was on her side of the bed. He said that “mummy passed on this morning,” and while I had no idea what that phrase meant, I somehow knew.
I can’t imagine what it was like for our parents when you passed.
Mum would speak about you and even took me to visit your grave on a couple of occasions. When I see the pictures with you and her, she looks like a mother full of love and joy.
I recall someone saying they remember Bev taking you everywhere, which I can imagine included visits to Kings and of course to the beach. I assume it was similar to where she’d take me.
There are many lessons from her life and a legacy which I am committed to enduring, and this includes you…my older sister whom I’ve never met but have always known. 2026 marks 50 years since your passing and yet I don’t know the actual date, and there isn’t a tombstone…yet.
I struggle with whether this post may be seen as attention getting, but I also believe in marking milestones. Bury the body, not the person. I am going to continue the journeying of learning more about you and our mum, and put the pieces together.
More to come.