Hundreds farewell slain teen
Grieving mum pays tribute to lost daughter. Hamish McNeilly and Hannah Martin report.
communities across the globe.
He saw a parallel between taking your clothes off and talking about mental health - people tend to be ashamed of both, but needn’t.
"My slogan is ’it takes guts to take your gear off but it also takes guts to talk about mental illness’.
"I’m trying to spark the conversations around the world so people talk about mental illness. And of course seeing those smiles on the farmers faces is incredible to see."
Brooksby will put out a 2019 calendar and publishing a book to raise funds and awareness.
A recent Canterbury University study of coroner’s records from 2007-15 showed three factors were a fatal combination accounting for a significant proportion of farmer suicides, especially among young men: a broken relationship, drink and a gun. A gun was used by 40 per cent of the 185 farmers who took their lives between 2007-15, compared with 8 per cent in the general population, while hanging was the most common method (45 per cent).
New Zealand is not alone in the high rate of farmer suicides. The Guardian reports an Australian farmer dies by suicide every four days; in the UK, one farmer a week takes his or her own life; in France, one farmer dies by suicide every two days; and in the United States the suicide rate for agricultural workers in 17 states is nearly five times higher compared with that in the general population. AMBER-ROSE Rush was described as fearless, someone who fought for those who couldn’t ‘‘fight for themselves,’’ in a colourful service on Saturday.
Hundreds dressed in bright colours mourned the loss of their daughter, sister, aunt and friend at Hope and Sons Chapel in Dunedin.
The 16-yearold was found dead at her Corstorphine home on February 3.
A 30-year-old doctor has been charged with murdering her the night before.
Amber-Rose ‘‘took no s...’’, and was staunchly protective of her friends and family, the gathering heard.
The ‘‘cheeky and spunky’’ girl was described as valuing honesty, having a sense of justice and unafraid to say what she thought.
She ‘‘stuck up for the underdog,’’ family said.
Her boyfriend, Ben, said she always had his back, a sentiment echoed by her sister Shantelle andmumLisa.
Lisa Rush said her daughter may have acted tough, but inside she was ‘‘marshmallow on the inside’’.
‘‘You are the glue that holds us together. You are my best friend, my love, my spark, my everything . . . love mum.’’
A letter she wrote Amber-Rose on her first birthday was also read out, ‘‘and I know you will go on and have a beautiful life and a family of your own’’.
‘‘And you will understand the absolute love that I have for you.’’
Despite pretending she was tough, Amber-Rose was ‘‘marshmallow on the inside,’’ her mumsaid.
Her father nicknamed her ‘‘peanut’’ and her step-father called her ‘‘shorty’’.
Another tribute recalled the time Amber used her last $10 from her pay to take a homeless man into a supermarket to buy some food.
The experience moved her to tears.
The service heard Amber-Rose had bought a car, a Honda Prelude,three weeks before she died, and added her own touches: a pink steering wheel cover, a pink flying pig and a pink mat.
The supermarket worker, who had ambitions of being a police officer and dog handler, was described as a person who would light up each room she entered.
Family said she was the ‘‘life and soul of the party’’ and hated to miss out on anything.
Her coffin, carried by her family, was led out of the chapel to Eminem song Remind Me, which she had played in the car with hermum the night of her death.
Amber-Rose’s older brother, Jayden, said his sister was a talented artist and loved to draw.
‘‘Our best friend and closest family member is gone.’’
The family got matching tattoos to remember her.
Police officers this week recovered an item of interest – understood to be a cellphone – from Blackhead Quarry.
The accused was granted interim name suppression and remanded in custody without entering a plea until his next High Court appearance, scheduled for later this month.
A Givealittle page, started by Amber-Rose’s sister Shantelle, had raised $7620 for the family.
You are my best friend, my love, my spark, my everything, love mum’ LISA RUSH, AMBER-ROSE’S MOTHER, PICTURED TOGETHER