REBECCA’S FINAL HOMECOMING

REBECCA Wilson may have found a life of fame and distinction away from her home town of Surfers Paradise but she was a real Gold Coaster at heart.

The journalist and broadcaster lost her life to breast cancer last October but her life was remembered with fondness during a ceremony on her favourite beach this week.

Her nearest and dearest, including mother Maryloo, husband John Hartigan, children Tom and Will, her sister and brother, Lizzie and Jim Wilson, along with various relatives, inlaws and friends, gathered for the final farewell.

Adding to the poignancy was having family friend Trevor Hendy (above) paddle out past the shore break and distribute Beck’s ashes into the sea.

Her mother expressed the meaning of the day.

“It’s hard to put into words just how special Sunday was for us. My three children grew up on our beloved Surfers Paradise beach and each one of them would head straight there whenever they were in town.

“To have Trevor on board, one of the most impressive people I’ve ever known, it was exactly the fitting tribute to our beautiful Beck. She would be laughing and saying, ‘Trevor Hendy – fair dinkum – that’s so good!’ Now she’s ‘home’ and I can visit her every day.”