This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/sep/13/blue-mountains-victim-memorial-service
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Gary Tweddle's family and friends bid their final farewells at funeral | Gary Tweddle's family and friends bid their final farewells at funeral |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Family and friends have attended a memorial service for Gary Tweddle, two months after he disappeared in the Blue Mountains. | Family and friends have attended a memorial service for Gary Tweddle, two months after he disappeared in the Blue Mountains. |
More than 170 people gathered at North Chapel in North Ryde for the service on Friday after the 23-year-old's body was recovered from a cliff last week. | More than 170 people gathered at North Chapel in North Ryde for the service on Friday after the 23-year-old's body was recovered from a cliff last week. |
He went missing from a work conference in Leura in the early hours of 16 July. He had called colleagues about midnight to tell them he was lost in bushland, but was never seen again. His body was spotted at Sublime Point by an ambulance rescue helicopter during a training exercise earlier this month. | He went missing from a work conference in Leura in the early hours of 16 July. He had called colleagues about midnight to tell them he was lost in bushland, but was never seen again. His body was spotted at Sublime Point by an ambulance rescue helicopter during a training exercise earlier this month. |
His partner, Anika Haigh, colourfully dressed as a tribute to his exuberant personality, told mourners at the funeral: "I feel blessed to have experienced the beautiful feeling of being deeply and crazily in love." | His partner, Anika Haigh, colourfully dressed as a tribute to his exuberant personality, told mourners at the funeral: "I feel blessed to have experienced the beautiful feeling of being deeply and crazily in love." |
She said Gary would want people to celebrate his life rather than mourn his loss, and recalled how his sense of humour drew people to him. | She said Gary would want people to celebrate his life rather than mourn his loss, and recalled how his sense of humour drew people to him. |
"He spent so much of his day making awful dad jokes." | "He spent so much of his day making awful dad jokes." |
His father, David, thanked the more than 1,000 people who helped search for his son, affectionately known as Gaz. | |
This included Oracle colleagues from Sydney, Melbourne and New Zealand, who travelled to the Blue Mountains to help what has been described as the largest-ever search in that area. | This included Oracle colleagues from Sydney, Melbourne and New Zealand, who travelled to the Blue Mountains to help what has been described as the largest-ever search in that area. |
"These 1000 people brought our boy back," he said. "From Gary – thank you to you all." | "These 1000 people brought our boy back," he said. "From Gary – thank you to you all." |
His mother, Carol Streatfield, said she would struggle to accept that her son was not coming back. | His mother, Carol Streatfield, said she would struggle to accept that her son was not coming back. |
"There are no words to say how much I will miss you," she said. | "There are no words to say how much I will miss you," she said. |
Representatives from NSW Police, the Special Emergency Services and other volunteer organisations also attended the service. | Representatives from NSW Police, the Special Emergency Services and other volunteer organisations also attended the service. |
Mourners were asked to make donations to the volunteer groups involved in the search, in lieu of flowers. | Mourners were asked to make donations to the volunteer groups involved in the search, in lieu of flowers. |
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. |
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox every weekday. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox every weekday. |