Tuesday, March 8, 2011

My Brother Tim

It's the terror of knowing
What this world is about
Watching some good friends
Screaming let me out
Pray tomorrow - gets me higher
Pressure on people - people on streets


Under Pressure (*) - David Bowie and Queen

Recently posted a video of Annie Lennox and David Bowie singing Under Pressure at the 1992 The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert at Wembley Stadium. In the post I included the lyrics as I often can't quite make out what is being sung (which is Okay). On listening to the song, the meaning of the above lines were instantly clear to me.

Today is the 7th of March and this is the day we take as the passing of my younger brother Tim on Mon 7th March 2005.

Sadly, Tim found himself in a position (Under Pressure I guess) where he considered the best option was to take his own life in a lonely spot by the side of Lake Burley Griffin, less than a couple of km's from the centre of Canberra's Parlimentary Circle (and where we will shortly participate for our State and Club at the 2011 AusDBF National Dragon Boat Championships). A remarkably powerful statement to make about how he felt about life.

His sudden death and it's nature had a hugh impact on his Family and his close Friends.

There will be always the question Why?, but that is not really important now. We should look to remembering the time we had with Tim and as well as the relationship we had with him. Remember the good times.

It is important also to acknowledge his silent suffering and the nature of his death (part of the reason for writing this post). Anger and Regrets are futile emotions. For me, the most important thing is understanding and forgiveness, something I asked all to embrace from the very first moments. This is far more productive, particularly when combined with a sense of persistence, determination, courage to live our lives to the full, no matter the circumstances.

How we respond to life's twists and turns shapes who we become. Choose to live life to the full, learn (don't be afraid to make mistakes - lots of them actually - you will learn more that way), and become stronger, wiser and more resilent.

Was planning to write more, but finding it a little difficult to express myself clearly. So what I do in these circumstances, is hand it over to the photos and the memories they contain. Don't have too many actually (he avoided camera's for some reason), but here they are ..

Cheers - Jo, Tim, Geoff, Jenny, David, Jenny - Darook Park / Cronulla (Sun 30 Apr 2000)
Tim and Grace - Coffs Harbour (25 Dec 2000)
Geoff, Jenny, Tim and Jo - Alexandria (18 Nov 2001)
Tim, Thomas and Geoff - Bronte (23 Dec 2001)
Geoff, Mum and Tim - Wagga Wagga (19 Jan 2002)
Tim, Grandpa and Geoff - Malua Bay (07 Dec 2003)
Tim and Aunty Erica (*) - Batehaven Book Exchange / Batehaven - (07 Dec 2003)
Mum, Tim (London Bound) and Lynn - You must be somewhere in London - Sydney International Airport (01 Jul 2004)
Mum, Tim (London Bound) and Geoff - You must be somewhere in London - Sydney International Airport (01 Jul 2004)
Photo Poster 1 for Tim's Get Together - Griffith / Canberra (Sat 12 Mar 2005)
Photo Poster 2 for Tim's Get Together - Griffith / Canberra (Sat 12 Mar 2005)
Photo Poster 3 for Tim's Get Together - Griffith / Canberra (Sat 12 Mar 2005)
"Despair" - Canberra (Sat 12 Mar 2005) )

Together Again

One year later I would place the Ashes of Tim and my Father at Canberra's Norwood Crematorium. I had my Father's Ashes moved from Wagga Wagga (another story in itself). Jenny, Jo, Lynn and Erica were there also. Tim travelled a lot and my Aunt always said that he was searching for his Father. After all his searching I could now say to her that they were together again.

Tim and Tom - Norwood Park / Canberra (Fri 10 Mar 2006)
Jenny, Geoff, Jo and Lynn - Norwood Park / Canberra (Fri 10 Mar 2006)
Jenny, Geoff and Joanne - Norwood Park / Canberra (Fri 10 Mar 2006)
Tim and Tom - Norwood Park / Canberra (Fri 10 Mar 2006)
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A tree overlooking them .. - Norwood Park / Canberra (Fri 10 Mar 2006)

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