Raoul Galea | Media Student / Cafe Worker

To many death is a scary topic that is avoided because of how it makes them feel. This too is how I felt up until the death of my grandfather Ken Horler 5 years ago. He was an influential figure in my life because of his courageous, smart and hilarious personality, and I believe his life should never be forgotten.

From his death I learnt not to see death as a curse, but as a time where we can reflect on the great deeds of one’s life. It is a time of remembrance, the time to reflect, not something to dread. Life is beautiful and death is a part of that. The connections we make along the way is what makes us who we are.

And after we’re gone hopefully these connections were strong enough to make an impact on the people we leave behind. This thinking also influenced my belief that when we reach that point in life, it won’t be as sombre as many believe it is. The life we have lived will hopefully be remembered and celebrated.

Additionally the lack of an afterlife or a place where our minds go, will be a welcoming thought. We spend our lives learning, solving problems and feeling emotions from others and ourselves.

So when the end is near, death is seen as an eternal peace. The life of our loved ones will go on, and our memories will live through the people we share them with. But finally we will feel content, leaving the world happy with what we accomplished.

I believe Ken felt this way as his life was ending. He would have been proud of his work as a criminal defence lawyer, advocating for life. Believing that despite someone’s apparent faults they still deserve to be fought for. He would have understood that his time had come, and that it was not a bad thing he was dying. His belief that he will not be forgotten being reason for why he was able to let go.

Death shouldn’t be seen as someone leaving our lives forever, but accepted as a part of life. It being the final event, the final experience that connects us all.

—Raoul Galea (2023)

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