My speech for Izacs Ride 4 Life Good afternoon everyone, It is such an honour to see so many people come out to support Izac’s Ride 4 Life, Firstly I would like to say a big thank you to Alvin Hava from Young People Ahead and his team, Rachelle Thorne from Standby Response and Stacey Bimrose, All those who have turned up to help,and Boys Town and Kids Help Line for their support. And our Hon Mayor Mr McGrady for opening this event. When you lose a loved one to suicide your life often becomes very isolated. Most people feel awkward and don’t know what to say. So seeing so many people turn up today to celebrate our loved ones lives is amazing and means so much I am sure, to every family here that has lost a loved one. Today is a day of Remembrance and celebration, a day to remember our lost loved ones and to celebrate their lives. My son Izac was a fun loving, outgoing young man with the world at his feet. He was a boy who loved many and really cared about his friends and family. Izac on many occasions reached out to friends that had, at one time or another been going through a rough patch and felt suicidal. And in doing so these friends had a change of heart and were able to identify, that their pain was temporary. And are now fine young men and women some with families of their own. I and my family wish to continue the support that my son provided to so many of his peers. As my 16 year old son PJ stated to me,” So many young people who have taken their lives, have put into place a permanent solution to a temporary problem that they can’t come back from.” Such wise words from a young man. Let us as a community help our young people realise a temporary problem is just that, temporary. And by talking about their issues they will come to see that there are other avenues to easing their pain, and helping them find that light at the end of their tunnel. Bullying amongst young people is also another major issue in Mt Isa. It lowers one’s self esteem and leaves you feeling like you are invisible or insignificant. This in turn can lead to suicidal thoughts. Bullying is a form of attention seeking. Let us as a community teach our young people that kind and thoughtful actions will also bring you the attention you are hoping for. Let’s teach our young people that bullying is not cool it is cruel. Let’s teach our young people not to encourage this behaviour in others, to stand up and say it’s not ok. We as a community have the responsibility to protect and teach our children. And together we can make a difference. Life is about choices, we all make good and bad choices in our lives. The choice my son made to end his life, was a spur of the moment decision. And while his pain ended his pain was transferred to all of us left behind but tenfold. For it is a pain that will never leave us. It is a burning hole in our hearts that will never be filled. But we must go on, and find a way to bring something good out of our horrific experience. And do our best to prevent this from happening to another family in our community. So I stress to every one of you. Do not remember my son for how he died, but remember him for how he lived. For he was an amazing individual with a heart of gold. Let us as a community continue to remember all the young people our community has lost. And let us celebrate the lives they lived.
Posted on: Mon, 24 Nov 2014 06:36:33 +0000
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