TEARS flowed at a Lake Bonney candlelight vigil on Saturday night supporting voluntary euthanasia.
Held just weeks before the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2020 is due to again hit SA parliament, the event also doubled as an opportunity for locals to remember friends and family members who had “unnecessary” suffering before dying.
“Saturday night’s candlelight vigil was all about choice,” said organiser Angie Miller.
“Most importantly, to honour the suffering of those who are now gone and did not have a choice.
“Those who attended were also there full of hope for the passing of the Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2020. This Bill is currently before our State Parliament and if passed, will provide choice for the terminally ill.”
Ms Miller said the vigil was an expression of people’s individual and collective grief, and included some deeply personal stories.
“There were stories of such deep sadness of how people had watched their loved ones die, that there were no words,” she said.
“For one woman who attended, her husband had passed after a long battle with cancer only seven months ago. Her grief was still so raw that her tears could not be contained.
“Another woman who attended spoke of the privilege of caring for numerous loved ones at the end of their life. She was witness to both good deaths and bad deaths, and had a deep understanding of why suffering at the end of life is so unnecessary.
“During the vigil, the names of Riverland residents who had suffered at the end of their lives were read out. There was a general consensus that each name also represents a person of value and that their deaths should have reflected this.”
Ms Miller said major local contributors to the vigil included Monique Hendrie, Di Martin and Linda Matulick. Among those in attendance were Riverland advocates Jan Kemble and Lorraine Marter.
The Voluntary Assisted Dying Bill 2020 has passed the second reading stage in the Upper House and the debate will resume on May 5.