The text of the address by Andrew and Lyn Kernick appears below. Sorry it took so long to publish but they left for Adelaide the night of the Celebration!  Thanks for squeezing us in guys....

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Way back in 1990 (is it really 25 years ago?) a family with 2 young children sat in front of us at Casuarina Uniting Church. The dad was an interesting looking guy with a pony tail - hard to believe, but true - and the mum a gentle, quiet person. We soon learned the cute children were Tessa and Callum.

We are Lyn and Andrew Kernick and we and our family have enjoyed an incredible journey of friendship and life with the Bateman family here in Darwin, long distance during the Poatina, Tasmanian years and then with the unexpected blessing of their return to Darwin. Our children have grown - there have been many joyful celebrations, including 6 weddings, 4 of which we shared in Darwin, and some challenging times. Through it all we have known the amazing bond of our shared experience of God's grace and love for us as His children.

We feel very honoured that Geoff asked us to speak tonight on behalf of Sue's friends. We realise that you are all here because you too are Sue's friends and you all have many and different memories of being with and knowing Sue. There are many other friends interstate and overseas who also share with us tonight in celebrating Sue's friendship and love.

It's great that we have so many memories of times spent with Sue and how she has blessed us and enriched each of our lives.

Before Sue died, Lyn wanted her to know just how much we all value and appreciate her love and friendship. Lyn wrote some of the special things that make Sue so precious to us in a card. I know many of you have also expressed your love with messages, flowers, meals and one beautiful quilt.

Geoff read our card to Sue and talked about it with her. Tessa also had the opportunity to talk about these things with her. In her honest and humble way Sue agreed, with her cheeky grin, that these gifts described her really well and that she thought we had it "pretty right". We are so pleased that Sue was able to hear "just what we thought of her" and accept it - and that it was not just shared at her memorial service.

As we read through this list of the special attributes which we love about our dear friend, we invite you to remember and reflect on your own times spent with Sue - at home, at church, at work, on social occasions, in whatever part of Australia you knew her.

Sue, there are so many things about you that make you so precious to us all

  • your gentleness, sincerity and humility
  • your kindness, thoughtfulness and generosity. You see a need and quietly meet it.
  • your love and encouragement to become all that we can be
  • your steadfast support which has enabled and empowered Geoff in all he does
  • your "mother heart" and the obvious love, wisdom and encouragement you have shared with your wonderful children, Tessa, Callum and Mitchell which has stretched to enfold Jim, Megan and Lauren.
  • your hospitality and yummy cooking and the care you give to making us all feel welcome and special, the food always garnished with fun and fellowship
  • your sense of humour, even though you often had to fight for airspace in your zany family
  • your creativity and artistic skills which decorated your homes and many special events
  • your faithfulness and loyalty to all of us as your friends
  • your positive attitude, no matter what!
  • your Godly wisdom, so quietly and gently shared with honesty and integrity
  • your strength and resilience
  • your steadfast trust and hope in God, and your testimony to His presence and provision through every step of your life journey
  • your courage and determination to treasure and celebrate every moment, which you and Geoff have so generously and openly shared with us in the blog "The Journey - where joy and grief mix and merge", You have taught us so much about "giving thanks in all circumstances." (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

What a blessing to have shared our lives with you Sue, and with Geoff, Tessa, Callum and Mitchell.

We praise God for the blessing of your life.

We have so much to remember and celebrate.

Peace and blessings today and for eternity. We love you, Sue.

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