By Natasha Fujimoto
FOLLOWING the passing of a loved one, bereavement’s only consolation is perhaps that remembrance never dies and often, the way we choose to memorialise a loved one is as indicative and as special as the relationship that was once shared.
For Riddy and Lume Ahmet, losing their 51-year-old son Jamie to brain cancer two years ago was a tragedy that no parent or family should ever have to endure. However, with the help of their daughter Jennifer, the grieving family decided that the most meaningful way to remember their son and brother was to design a beautiful, circular garden in their front yard entitled, ‘Jamie’s Garden.’
Turning their attention to an expired pear tree on their nature strip, Riddy decided to honour his son’s memory further by removing its foliage to paint a vibrant, sculpture like ‘Awareness Tree’, to foster greater acknowledgement about terminal disease.
Painting each branch a different colour to represent an illness, Jennifer had a plaque made to sit within Jamie’s Garden festooned with icons representing some of Jamie’s passions in life; a Falcon GT, a Harley Davidson and a magpie to evoke Jamie’s dedication to Collingwood football team.
A short time ago, however, Riddy and his family were informed by the Greater Shepparton City Council that ‘someone’ in the neighbourhood had complained about the tree and it would have to be cut down as it presented a distraction to drivers on the corner block.
Understanding the sentimental value of the tree, Council assisted Riddy and his family to move the tree to a fixed position within the garden boundary after cutting it at ground level.
Saddened and perplexed by the whole affair Riddy said, “I don’t understand why Council had to cut it down, especially when the lights at Lake Victoria at night always catch my eye, surely that is a hazard in the same way, beautiful as they are.”
