Remembering Jake
It was with great sadness
that we learned of the deaths
of Chloe Bennett’s grand-
father and then also her
father Jake Cameron within a
few days of each other.
Some of us joined Chloe, her
mother Julie-Ann, her grand-
mothers Robin and Debbie,
and other family members at
a memorial held at the
Margaret Whitlam Pavilion at
the National Arboretum,
where a beautiful and loving
tribute was shared.
Jake loved fishing, cross
country skiing and the wilder-
ness. He also loved Chloe
very much, and her love for
him was evident to all who
were present when she
contributed to the farewell.
Some words adapted from a poem by John O’Donohue were most moving and
we all read them aloud together. They included, “When we lose someone we
love, our lives become strange, the ground beneath us becomes fragile.”
It was also moving when we listened to, and some joined in singing, ‘All you
Need is Love’. And again, when a family friend softly sang ‘The Lord is my
Shepherd’. And yet again when Michael Leunig’s Prayer of Gratitude was read:
“We rejoice and give thanks for earthworms, bees, ladybirds and broody hens;
for humans tending their gardens, talking to animals, cleaning their homes and
singing to themselves; for the rising of the sap, the fragrance of growth, the
invention of the wheelbarrow and the existence of the teapot we give thanks.
We celebrate and give thanks. Amen”
We do indeed celebrate Jake’s almost 50 years of life and give thanks for his
sharing it with our dear St Margaret’s friends Chloe, Julie-Ann and Robin.
St Margaret’s News
10
February 2020