22/08/2024
My dear, kind and gentle father passed away a few weeks ago, you may have seen my post on my personal social media accounts. He was a true gentleman and moral authority, who lived a fulfilling and creative life. Warwick will be dearly missed by his community and especially by his family.
It’s extraordinary that I was present when my father passed suddenly. Mainly because we live on opposite sides of the country, and I’ve only seen my dad for a handful of days in the last 15 months. I have shared the story of our last day here.
He loved to drive and was determined to cross the country in order to visit my sister Mary in Kalgoorlie, and me in south Freo. He had ventured out with my mother, my sister Ang, and their apex caravan. He got sick on the way, and developed pneumonia. He did have some time in hospital in Kalgoorlie, but they released him and he drove with my Mum and sister Ang to my house in Freo.
Mum and Dad were really happy on their last day together, despite being sick with respiratory viruses. My journal entry from that morning describes my shock at how weak and sick dad seemed. I wanted him to stay in bed all day and gave him some books to read. I was a bit dismayed when he got dressed and came to sit with us inside as I wanted him to rest.
I made him up some herbs while he had a nap, his were mostly heart healers and vein tonics. Elderberry, Bilberry, D**g Quai, Gymnema, pleurisy root, hawthorn berries.
At 5.22 in the afternoon, Dad was in the hallway. He looked in on my beautiful son. John John smiled at him, Dad smiled back, in the way that he did. His heart stopped beating. He fell backwards onto the floor, making a giant thud. I jumped into action, calling 000, commencing CPR with the help of my mother. I was surprised at how calm, clear, focused and in control I felt. The paramedics arrived within 8 minutes I think, but it was much too long. I pumped and strained my ears for the sound of sirens I couldn’t hear. Willing them to arrive. Cont in comments
