A Big Thank you to the
Mason Family and Friends On a recent trip to Ireland, Peter McKenna, Claddagh Vice-chairperson, had the pleasure of meeting Kathleen Mason, the mother of Brian Mason. Brian (28) had been living in Perth for 3 years. He loved the outback and tragically died in WA in 2018 as he was travelling back to Perth from visiting a friend in Karratha. Brian was from Broadford, Co Clare and his family and friends there held a fundraising tractor run in his honour in November 2018. The incredible generosity of Brian’s community demonstrates the high esteem his family and friends had for him and how loved he was. The proceeds were divided between the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust (KBRT) of Newry and The Claddagh Association of WA. The KBRT alleviates the financial hardship of bereaved families by repatriating the bodies of loved ones who have died abroad in sudden or tragic circumstances. The Claddagh Association are honoured to work together with KBRT as part of our mission supporting members of the Irish community in WA in crisis situations. Peter thanked Kathleen for the very generous donation raised through the Brian Mason Memorial Tractor Run. He presented her with a card from The Claddagh Association which shared some of the ways those funds have been used to support other members of the Irish community in WA in circumstances of bereavement, visa issues, health problems, isolation and loneliness. Brian’s memory lives on in the work his family’s fundraising supports. If you, or anyone you know in the Irish community in WA needs support please contact Claddagh’s Coordinator Anne Wayne on (08) 9249 9213 or by email at admin@claddagh. org.au or call Claddagh’s crisis line on 0403 972 265.
The ultimate
home run! The COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictions put in place to help contain it have impacted all our lives in different ways. Here Perth solicitor, Catherine Lynch, with Cariad Legal, shares her family’s personal experience and the extraordinary lengths it took for them to be together during this incredible time. “I am pregnant and due to have our first baby in May,” said Catherine, who is married to Co. Meath native Damien Lynch. Damien has been working FIFO in Queensland for some time and was over east when the coronavirus crisis quickly started to unfold in March. “There was a lot of uncertainty for Damien and his colleagues as well as us with changing guidelines and everything else that was happening,” she added. “It was important that he kept working for as long as possible but we knew eventually the day would come when we’d have to make the call as to whether he would leave work to come home. The decision was particularly difficult because we knew that, once he left, he may not be able to get back for a significant length of time.” They were forced to make a decision when on Wednesday April 2 Premier Mark McGowan announced Western Australia’s border would be closed three days later. It was the first time in the history of the country that Western Australia closed the door to visitors from the other states. “We discovered that, even as a FIFO worker, Damien would not be exempt from quarantine requirements,” added Catherine. “We also discovered later that
Below: Brian Mason Memorial Tractor Run. Left: Peter McKenna with Kathleen Mason
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