Memorial chance to honour an inspiration

MY sister-in-law passed away last month when Townsville was being pelted with rain.

Deidre, or Dee as she was known, was taken too soon by that insidious disease, breast cancer.

I told my brother, Peter, that Townsville had cried her a flood.

It turned out to be one of unprecedented scale where many new records for rainfall were set.

That was somehow appropriate. Hundreds of people attended the two memorials at Lennox Head, where Peter and Dee had relocated, and at Townsville where Dee was best known.

For many years she worked here as a preschool teacher and a lot of her work colleagues attended the Townsville event.

It was a fitting tribute to someone who left such a legacy of love and caring for the students and parents with whom she came into contact and with her work colleagues who spoke of the inspiration she provided.

I knew Dee not only for her love and decency as a human being but her courage.

She was a committed feminist. I recall my parents, Liberal though they were, in shock when Dee declared she would remain a Mountjoy and not adopt our family name.

They relented and accepted the decision.

At Dee’s memorial a poem was read, written by a close friend of mine and hers, Kate Gibson, who was also taken too soon by breast cancer.

Kate’s family found the poem years after she passed. It provides some solace so I thought I would share it.

“Remember I am here to stay just in a different way. I will always be part of you, as you were part of me too. “When you want to hear my words or see my face, just close your eyes and go to that space.

“In your heart, saved for me, I’ll always be there, you’ll see.

“Remember I am here to stay, just in a different way. If you think hard, all my answers will be there, telling you how much I love you, how much I care.”

Vale Dee and Kate.