GOULD, Elaine June

18/06/1946 - 18/07/2025

Dearest Elaine,

you were very similar to your beloved son Justin, loved by everyone whose life you touched. That included all your students of Nemarluk School and your colleagues and friends who presented me with a book containing the words of how much you were loved and respected, written straight from the heart of many, which I now treasure greatly. I know how much you loved and treasured your many grandchildren, although you didn't get to see them that often. It's been very difficult to accept the double loss of my loved ones in such a small space of time, although it has been said that acceptance is the first step in overcoming the circumstances of any great loss. You fought so hard with your many illnesses. When we went to Perth for the treatment and operations of 2 cancers, which was a stay of 7 months. Towards the end of our stay, you helped others with ways to navigate their fears and illnesses, (especially the deaf woman and Blacky) There were 3 different chemotherapies that were used for your treatments, and none seemed compatible. Towards the end of our stay, the last chemotherapy was causing a form of paralysis, which caused the specialist to inform you that if the treatment continued, you would be wheelchair bound for the rest of your life, and if the treatment was stopped, the cancers could come back, and then there was no other treatment left to fight the cancers. You said so bravely, without a second thought, stop the treatment. Then later on you had to deal with the radiation treatment that had completely destroyed a lymph node in your groin, causing fluid build-up and pressure to the right leg, eventually affecting the heart. You fought one of the hardest battles of all for 11 years, one that the specialists in Perth didn't think you could last that long, and I'm grateful for those extra years we had together. You were a wonderful, loving person and wife, who loved your sons and adored your grandchildren. Losing our first born broke your heart, literally. And it broke my heart with the double loss. I will never forget you, and will see you and Justin, one day soon, Elaine.

Love always, Peter. Rest In Peace