Thanks, buds, for all your words.
As for waiting til later or writing to the family around his birthday, I have some reservation about it. I feel it's best to be included in the natural wave of condolences as everyone joins in an outpouring of grief and sympathy. I feel sure the family will see the notice. Someone will be looking to save all the notices for them, even if they are too distracted. (Personally, I'm not sure whether writing to them on his birthday might not be more distressing than comforting. We can discuss this as the time draws closer.)
I haven't heard from Phillip yet, but time is of the essence if we're going to have our condolences included. I hope you won't mind if I take the bull by the horns and act on this.
Reading your replies, I think I will go ahead with the text and the second picture and ask my friend to put in the notice in
The West Australian around the time of the service in Perth. She can also send flowers with a card. I'm sure we can easily make up the cost of this among us. I'll also ask her to send copies of the actual newspaper; she's already going to send me a special memorial section that is being planned for tomorrow's Perth paper.
If you would like to start contributing to the cost, you can send it to my PayPal account: paypal.com; choose "Send Money"; recipient is
[email protected]. I guess you could check either "Goods" or "Services."
I think you should contribute whatever you want to, from $5 on up. If there is money left, we can donate it to a good cause in Heath's memory.
