Brisbane Memorial Offers A Message Of Hope
09 June 2022- Veteran stories
- Mateship
- Health & wellbeing
The first Cor Infinitus memorial in the City of Brisbane has been unveiled, honouring those who lost their struggle after service.
Located on the war memorial at Walton Bridge Reserve in The Gap, the new memorial was unveiled by Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner on 8 April.
Also in attendance were Councillor Steve Toomey, RSL Queensland Brisbane North District President Merv Brown OAM, Cor Infinitus founder Kevin Humphreys, members of The Gap RSL Sub Branch, and members of the public.
Mr Kevin Humphreys, Cor Infinitus founder
The Gap RSL Sub Branch President David Esler, who petitioned for the memorial, says the passion Kevin has for the Cor Infinitus initiative resonated with him personally.
“I first heard Kevin speak at a Brisbane North District meeting around a year ago and he spoke about Cor Infinitus and the first memorial in Townsville. He was clearly passionate about this subject and making a difference,” he says.
“I’m a younger veteran. I’m only 45 and that’s young these days. And my cohort of Iraq, Afghanistan and Timor veterans are the ones spoken of quite often dying by suicide.”
“So, this conversation about veteran suicide is very much in my demographic.”
Mr Ron Ward, 2020 Brisbane Senior Volunteer of the Year
David says the memorial and what Kevin is trying to achieve through Cor Infinitus seemed like a good fit for what the RSL is about.
“Cor Infinitus is about more than memorials. It is about offering practical support, words of encouragement and support. Offering avenues for people to take, if they come across a memorial like this,” he says.
“There was a couple who came up to me at the unveiling and thanked us for creating this memorial. Their son died by suicide and they said they felt this was a place they could now come to remember him. It made me see how much of a difference this can make.”
Mr David Esler, President of The Gap RSL Sub Branch, Mr Adrian Schrinner, Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Mr Kevin Humphreys, Cor Infinitus founder
TAKING STEPS FORWARD
For David, who like many has experienced losing friends by suicide, the conversation that has started is an important first step.
“There isn’t a lightning bolt solution to this problem, it’s the accumulation of initiatives and projects that will help us bring about change. For me personally, in my family I talk to my kids about when you are depressed, sad or your brain isn’t working properly. It’s the same as having a cold or a broken leg. You go to the doctor. And if you’re having these thoughts, feelings, and stresses, you go to the right kind of doctor.
“For me it’s like physical health. If something is off, you seek support. I think people are a lot more open to that these days.
Kevin Humphreys, Executive Director and Founder of Cor Infinitus, began the project to give dignity and respect to service men and women who have died by suicide and offer families and loved one a ‘relatable message of hope’.
“The memorial in The Gap marks our first in the Brisbane City Council area and our 10th nationally,” he says.
“We now have Cor Infinitus memorials in Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and more planned.
“Our focus remains on families. The feedback we are getting from them, veterans and clinicians show that there is need to offer dignity and respect to families who have lost a loved one from a death by suicide. The memorials offer them a tangible place to connect and reflect, which when coupled with dignity and respect, aids healing.”
“I’m looking forward to seeing a Cor Infinitus memorial in every city, suburb and town around the country as we play our part in preventing suicide and if each memorial can do that just once, we will have had a massive impact on the tragedy veteran suicide has on our community.”
The first Cor Infinitus memorial was unveiled on World Suicide Prevention Day in 2020 in Townsville’s ANZAC Park.
For more information visit the Cor Infinitus website.
If you are struggling and need help, please reach out. If you need urgent assistance after hours, please contact Open Arms on 1800 011 046. Their counsellors are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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