Memorial to Tanya Burr, killed 15 September 2002

Kelvin Grove Community Centre: 20 September 2002

Tanya arriving at Kelvin Grove Community Centre, Kaimanawa Street, Kelvin Grove, Palmerston North, about two hours before her funeral. This was to allow her coffin to be open for a while before the funeral started, so people who couldn't visit her elsewhere had the chance to do so. (Photo: Val)

Sorting out the latest crop of pallbearers (Photo: Val)

Carrying Tanya into the Community Centre. Pallbearers are a maternal uncle, a paternal uncle, three paternal cousins and Anita's brother James. (Photo: Val)

Tanya's father (left), four uncles (from both parental families) and Anita's brother James, carrying Tanya from the Community Centre after the service toward the hearse. My family (i.e. Mum) have lived in Kelvin Grove since 1871 and been involved with the halls there since the first in 1901. Tanya attended things at the hall from her pre-school playcentre days. (Photo: Evening Standard)

Kelvin's sister Barbara at left, the Norwegian contingent at centre (see Tanya's photo of Christina in Norway taken only four weeks earlier), and Tanya's maternal cousins Raymond and Jamie (at right), as the funeral cortège gets organised. Tanya's car took pride of place on the lawn in front of the hall, as is shown here. (Photo: Val)

Just after our arrival at the grave site at Kelvin Grove Cemetery, James Line, Kelvin Grove, Palmerston North, with Tanya's car (Aug. 2001 crash-damaged side showing) having followed in the procession immediately behind the hearse. This time it was driven by Nick (Anita's partner), Anita and other friends as could be fitted into it for its special last journey with Tanya. Kieran and I had travelled in the hearse as we weaved our way through the residential streets of Kelvin Grove suburb so Tanya could pass by special family places one last time. The cemetery and the community centre are about three or four kilometres apart 'as the crow flies', and the former Burr family farm covered about a kilometre of that distance. (Photo: Val)

There are times when one wishes one wasn't the only person around with a camera, and this was such an occasion. However, the end result - and the means of retaining the memories - is more special than a little awkwardness on the day. After all, Tanya was not fated to become a bride or to create, by her own choice and/or participation, any more happy photographable memories. The set of photos that follow on the next page prove that there was another person with a camera around to capture those treasured moments. I must admit though that until I got the film developed, I hadn't realised how many I had taken on my second (oldie but much better than the new one it transpires) camera.