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Pilgrimage to Wallan.
Jul. 2nd, 2008 07:29 pmVery regular readers (there may be some of you) will remember that a couple of years ago a friend of mine - Daniel McKay - was killed in a car crash. Near his home town of Wallan, which is north-west of Melbourne on the way to Ballarat. This is the entry I wrote about it at the time, and another entry about some of his stencils.
It was, in fact, just over two years ago now. June 23rd of 2006. I remember my (then) girlfriend telling me on the the phone that she'd got a "bad" email. I asked what she meant by a "bad" email? Turned out Daniels dad had sent out an email from his email address saying "Daniel was in an accident last night and you won't be hearing from him again..."
Three of us made our way up to his funeral, which looked like it was attended by most of the town.
Then last year, around this time, I went on a pilgrimage up to Wallan. It seemed like the thing to do. I was pleased to see that several other people had been past as well, and left tokens by his grave. He's buried in one corner of the rather picturesque Wallan cometary. Which was also, I noticed, rather too full of young people.
I remember last year telling someone about my trip up there, and saying how Daniel was "Still there".
So, last weekend, it being just over two years, I drove north again, visited him again. It's sad to think that I will never see him again.
I'm not sure why Daniel's death in particular affected me. He's by no means the only friend I've lost. Actually, that's not entirely true, I'm lucky enough to have not really lost anyone like that - there was Hendric Bos, someone I knew in highshool, not well, who died in a hang glider accident the year after school finished. And my cousin Steven, who jumped of a building in the 80's. Actually, I could go on, but it's too miserable to do so. Suffice to say, that I've never been in this situation before. It's also that Daniel was such an interesting guy and... So young. He was only 21 when he died.
Anyway, I feel like he's berating me sometimes, from where he lies, to, I don't know, go stencil some walls or something.
( Pictures )
It was, in fact, just over two years ago now. June 23rd of 2006. I remember my (then) girlfriend telling me on the the phone that she'd got a "bad" email. I asked what she meant by a "bad" email? Turned out Daniels dad had sent out an email from his email address saying "Daniel was in an accident last night and you won't be hearing from him again..."
Three of us made our way up to his funeral, which looked like it was attended by most of the town.
Then last year, around this time, I went on a pilgrimage up to Wallan. It seemed like the thing to do. I was pleased to see that several other people had been past as well, and left tokens by his grave. He's buried in one corner of the rather picturesque Wallan cometary. Which was also, I noticed, rather too full of young people.
I remember last year telling someone about my trip up there, and saying how Daniel was "Still there".
So, last weekend, it being just over two years, I drove north again, visited him again. It's sad to think that I will never see him again.
I'm not sure why Daniel's death in particular affected me. He's by no means the only friend I've lost. Actually, that's not entirely true, I'm lucky enough to have not really lost anyone like that - there was Hendric Bos, someone I knew in highshool, not well, who died in a hang glider accident the year after school finished. And my cousin Steven, who jumped of a building in the 80's. Actually, I could go on, but it's too miserable to do so. Suffice to say, that I've never been in this situation before. It's also that Daniel was such an interesting guy and... So young. He was only 21 when he died.
Anyway, I feel like he's berating me sometimes, from where he lies, to, I don't know, go stencil some walls or something.
( Pictures )
