1978 and 1979
Angela on some excursion into the hills.
Christmas day 1978.
51 Jan Hofmeyr Avenue, Florida Park.
Fun on the new water slide...
Tim, Shirley, Nicky, Jenni and 20 month old David,
Glenn and I, with Douglas, Angela, Dianne and three week old Gillian
joined my parents, and siblings Jane and Ronald to open presents
before Tim and Shirley going on to Shirley's family
and us going on to Glenn's family for Christmas dinner.
My brother Leslie was
in Namibia on a university field trip...
Dianne, Glenn with David facing the camera in front of him,
Nicky, Angela and Douglas.
This is probably the last photograph of David.
In the Christmas fun, someone left the swimming pool gate open.
When Tim and Shirley were gathering the children to leave,
Shirley said "Where's David?"
After a search for him Shirley found him at the bottom of the swimming pool.
She jumped in and lifted him up, and brought him to the steps.
I had recently done a first aid course so I started mouth to mouth resuscitation.
By that time other family members had gathered.
They helped carry limp David to the car, while I continued resuscitating.
Tim had taken the girls to the car in the driveway.
Hearing a commotion, he left the girls and met us at the garage side gate.
We raced straight to the Discoverer's hospital.
Little David was taken to an emergency room for examination and treatment.
He was declared dead.
Our family photograph early 1979
when Leslie had returned from his University excursion into the desert.
Greatly mixed emotions a few weeks later when we gathered
back at my parent's home to take annual family photographs
after a funeral of little David and much heart wrenching grieving
which continues... to a greater or lesser degree for each of us.
Back: Leslie, Glenn with Gillian, Ronald, Tim, Ken,
Middle: Douglas, Jane with Dianne, me, Shirley with Jenni, Philippa,
Front: Nicky and Angela.
I wonder how we could raise a smile for the photographs...
We were all deeply and agonizingly anguished and shocked...
And... life changed, for all of us, still is changed - forever...
We are very conscious of the risk of leaving a swimming pool gate open.
We all are especially attentive of where our young children are...
