Remembering Charlotte

Family, friends and industry gathered to remember Charlotte Dawson this morning, wearing their most colourful clothes in celebration of her spirit.

The memorial organised by Foxtel was held upstairs at an inner city hotel, and follows a private funeral and cremation that took place yesterday.

Media reports a red carpet was stretched across the entry to the venue as mourners gathered in the Sydney rain. Inside the theme was white, decorated with white lilies, white roses, balloons,  music from while Kylie Minogue’s Spinning Around and portraits of Dawson.

“It is with a heavy heart I address you here today,” Richard Wilkins said. ‘I want to pay respects to Charlotte’s sisters Vicky amd Robin. I wish we weren’t here today. Clinging to each other for support and comfort on the last day of summer.”

Hundreds listened to words from sister Vicky Dawson, Foxtel’s Brian Walsh, Alex Parry and columnist Ros Reines.

“I hope you can see now how many lives you touched and how loved you were,” Vicky Dawson said.

Alex Perry recalled her slapstick pranks, sneaking out of St Vincent’s hospital during treatment.

“So we had a fag and then we went back into the psych ward and she was medicated,” he explained.

“We talked about dying, and when I said when we get to the pearly gates… and she said “F*** that I’m going to the diamante gates.”

Brian Walsh recounted Charlotte’s biting remarks but added, “No one should have to suffer the darkness and anguish that took her life.

“She always had a cause, she never stopped but the pain had to.”

Amongst those attending were Megan Gale, Sarah and Lachlan Murdoch, Delta Goodrem, Terry Biviano and her husband Anthony Minichiello, Rabbitohs players and brothers Sam, Luke and George Burgess, Matt Shirvington, Peter Morrissey, Australia’s Next Top Model contestants Tahnee Atkinson, Madeleine Huett and Simone Hotlznagel, Fitzy and Wippa, John Ibrahim, Laura Dundovic, Nathan Jolliffe, Jez Smith, Camilla Franks, Didier Cohen and Mark Bosnich.

Yesterday in the NSW Parliament MP Alex Greenwich also paid tribute to her a passionate supporter of many social justice organisations and reforms and a champion of the GLBTI community.

Today’s service ended with the song Happy by Pharrell Williams.

Source: Mail Online, news.com.au

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