Letters of love: Walter Mikac’s tribute to his wife and daughters, murdered at Port Arthur
In memory of his daughters, Alannah and Madeline, and his wife, Nanette, who were murdered in the Port Arthur massacre, Walter Mikac has created a book of love letters from well-known Australians. To support Walter, TV stars Rex Hunt and Melissa Doyle sha
“I truly believe the power of love and creation will always triumph over the power of destruction and revenge and I still believe this 20 years on.”
On April 28, 1996, my life changed forever. I was hosting a local golf tournament when the sound of shots was heard from across the bay. At the time, we thought they were the sounds of a re-enactment at the historic site at Port Arthur. But, tragically, they weren’t and not long after I learned my two young daughters, Alannah, six, and Madeline, three, along with my wife, Nanette, and 32 others, had been killed.
I choose to think about Alannah, Madeline and Nanette most days, but I also choose not to think about that day as much as it is possible.
I am not sure what good comes of turning such a tragedy over and over in your mind.
Early on, when my grief was still strong and I couldn’t easily find sleep, I made a decision that my anger would not turn to hate. I decided that the perpetrator would not take any more from me. I vowed to use the catastrophe as a springboard to honour them.
And so I focused on every good thing I could remember or I could find. I read all the letters that Alannah wrote to me, the pictures she drew, and I remembered the way that Maddie would follow her everywhere.
The games they would play when they visited me at my pharmacy on the way home from school and the things they would do to make Nanette and me laugh. I remembered the pure joy felt when we were all together. A love I was lucky to have and one bigger than many ever know.
I choose to celebrate positive memories more passionately than commiserate any negative events. I looked for good in the world, not the bad.
The idea to create a book of letters of love was inspired by letters from Alannah, letters of hope and joy that I still read today when I need comfort and solace. The love of Alannah and Madeline is still alive in the world, 20 years on.