A special bouquet with a tragic story

On the 9^th October 2014 at around 6.30am in the morning the lives of a beautiful young South Australian family changed forever.

Brett Pearce, much loved husband of Krissy and dad to Hayden, Tahlia and Riley was a loving husband, dad and a respected member of the Willunga community. While I never had the pleasure of meeting Brett, I do know Krissy and her family.

I grew up in the same small community as Krissy’s family, and also went through school with her and her brother, Jay. Our families had BBQ’s together and as kids my sister and I along with Krissy and Jay attended Austrian Dancing. Later on I also worked with Kerren (Krissy & Jay’s Mum). I wouldn’t call us close by any stretch of the imagination and to be honest if it wasn’t for the wonders of Facebook it is unlikely we would still be in touch, however thanks to Facebook we are. Because of this I had an opportunity to create a keepsake for Krissy and her kids as a special memorial of Brett.

When I originally heard the news of Brett’s passing, I was shocked. You hear these stories on the news every day, but it is easy to become removed or desensitized when you don’t know the people behind the story. But here I was thinking about how close to home this was. It really made me sit down and think about the impacts of losing a loved one that’s so close to you in such a tragic accident.

The support given to Krissy over the past month and a half by those around her has been simply incredible to say the least. I have seen both the community Krissy grew up in as well as the one she now lives in rally together to help support her and her 3 gorgeous kids in any way they could. From cooking meals and maintenance around her property, to helping raise money to donate to her to help her realise Brett’s dream of raising their 3 kids on their beautiful little farm.

Watching the way people banded together has been amazing. It’s made me really proud to grow up in the community I did and watch people bend over backwards to offer support. Anyway you are probably wondering what all this has to do with bouquets.

When the accident first happened as I watched everyone spur into action I wondered how I could help, I donated some money, but I really wanted to find a way to create something meaningful for Krissy. That’s where the idea of the memorial bouquet was born. I stalked her Facebook profile and saved pictures down that I thought could be turned into buttons in her bouquet, I then spoke with Kerren after more information on Krissy and Brett’s story. Thinking over the details I thought to myself… “Would others like to be a part of this?” So I put the word out via Kerren asking for items of special meaning to be contributed to a “special project”. I never expected quite the response I got.

Items came from far and wide and so many people had a story behind why they included that item. It was incredible coming home each day to a pile of parcels and opening them to find the treasures inside and read the stories behind them. I have to admit there was a few times I was reduced to tears reading the letters.

Over the coming weeks I carefully pieced together fabric flowers in colours I had discussed with Kerren, wired all the keepsakes onto stems and hunted out charms in my own collection to help tell Krissy & Brett’s story. I really wasn’t prepared for how many items would be sent by others and as such the bouquet was pulled apart and recreated several times until I decided it was “just right”. During the creation I sent out updates to those who had requested them and wanted to wanted to watch the project come together.

Once everyone’s donations were included I added some sparkly initials B & K for Krissy and H, T & R for their 3 kids, Hayden, Tahlia and Riley. I also selected five of the photos I had saved and added these to the bouquet as well.

The handle was then finished with the Alexandra Secondary College School Emblem that one of Krissy’s school mates had sent. The lace on the handle was and handle end was also part of the donations.

I have lost count of the amount of time I worked on this bouquet, and really it wasn’t about the time, it was about creating a story in a bouquet, something that had meaning and that this beautiful young family could hopefully treasure forever.

I wanted to write this as I think to share the pictures alone doesn’t tell the story behind it. I also wanted to explain to Krissy how it came to be and thank everyone that has contributed to this project.

Krissy – I would do anything to be able to find a way to turn back time for you and I know this bouquet will never replace the empty place that has been left in your family. But I do hope it is something that will help you all to heal and keep Brett’s memory fresh in your minds forever.

Nic xxx

Thanks to the following contributors of this project (apologies if i have overlooked anyone)

• Nicole & Chris Ainger
• Jenny Pullen
• Jodie Craig
• Jacqui Vanzuyden
• Andrew Steenson (King)
• Wendy & Ellie-Mae Graham
• Chantelle & Paul Walters
• Adria, Caitlyn & Ruby
• Krissy’s Mums Group (Krissy, Sarah, Jacqui, Karena, Kim, Karina, Alicia, Lauren, Shelley and Naomi)
• Erica Watson
• Shelley Somerfield
• Marlene & Shane Lewis
• Kate Gleeson (Wallace)
• Kylie MacDonald
• Vicki Vanzuyden
• Rosalie Langley
• Rachael Mactaggart
• Jacqui Good
• The Pomeroys
• Matthew Pearson
• Catherine Fraser
• Kerren & Daryl Whitby
• Janelle Hassack (nee Bethlee)
• Julia Church