On the first anniversary of Michael’s death a memorial was unveiled on the afternoon of November 22, 1998. About 300 friends, family and fans attended the service at the Northern Suburbs Crematorium.

The service was brief and sweet and, in a way, Michael himself said more than anybody else, in the form of a transcript of an interview that he gave Swiss radio in June 1997, just six months before he committed suicide. Asked about Tiger Lily, Hutchence said that, while on tour, what he missed most was “the stupid things … a new front tooth growing, that kind of thing”.

“You have to say, OK, this is what I do. And she (Tiger Lily) wants me, whether she knows it or not, to do what I want to do, because ultimately, it’s for her. But it gets very difficult,” he said.

Then he paused.

“You know, I haven’t seen my baby for four months. I don’t even know if she knows who I am any more.”

Hutchence went on to say that he envied those with nine-to-five jobs, so he could leave in the morning, then count the hours “until I could get back to her”.

Hutchence’s family chose the theme of “love and peace” for the service.

One year ago exactly, I was out buying some new sunglasses, and I came home to find out I’d lost my brother, I do however still have my sunnies. God works in mysterious ways.

For the first few weeks after Michael’s untimely death, one line of his many Lyrics kept playing in my head. it was from “Bitter Tears” and the line was “And I thought I was doing no wrong”.

And to be honest I don’t believe he thought he was. Or he realized the full ramifications of his actions. Not that it would have made a difference at the time.

One year, long in grief and short in time. And one where it seems some peoples grief has been manifesting in anger, the pain of loss.

In the eternal cycle of life, death, and rebirth, life is constantly presenting us with opportunities to totally let go of what encumbers us, in order for us to fully embrace life with fresh openness, and forgiveness plays a major part.

Unless we have full gratitude for those we have loved how can we expect the fragile bud of rebirth to emerge within us.

It is time to let go, time to forgive.

The past cannot be changed, remember Michael with love and joy, not misery.

We are here on the anniversary of his death. We are here to celebrate his life.

If Michael’s death was a tragedy, his life was not. And how does one sum up such a full life.

The beauty is that some of his many talents will surface forever, due to the huge legacy he left us all, in a dozen albums, hundreds of songs, and the performance of thousands of truly memorable shows, all around the globe. Sometimes I feel Michael is everywhere, literally.

Michael, the poet, the lyricist, the natural performer certainly kicked his goal of world domination.

The hardest thing for me to reconcile is the death of Michael Hutchence, the normal human being. The ordinary man with an extraordinary life.

It’s Michael, the searcher, the explorer, the healer, the big brother, the kind gentle sensitive loving man that I miss. Thank god for memories.

It hurts that I won’t hear his spoken word, even if it was rousing on me, or feel in my heart the roar of the crowd when he stepped on stage.

I truly feel proud and honoured to have known him and lucky to have spent some of the best years of my life with him, and I cherish those memories.

I would never have wanted it to turn out this way, however Michael’s death has been my rebirth. It is the least I can do for him.

How we live and how we die are less than a breath apart.

Rock on mate, I love you.

I’d like to let go with a poem

Please take a few soft breaths
As we move
From one level to the next

As in growth, or dying
We need to let go
At the edge
To continue further

Trust the process
Let go lightly
Pass on Gently

Floral arrangement from INXS

On behalf of the members of INXS and their families, we wish to extend our love and condolences to Michael’s family at their memorial service. We wish to voice our appreciation and acknowledge the fans’ dedication and efforts they have made to show their respect and affection for Michael. We too miss him dearly and share your feelings of great loss. We hope everyone respects our need to mourn privately and in our own way. With love and our best wishes to all of you.

Andrew, Jon, Garry, Tim and Kirk

Song presented by Clare Patterson during the Memorial Service.

Jesus We Know Who You Are

Clare Patterson and Matt Roberts
Lead/backing vocals
Marc Allen
Composition/arrangement
Marc Allen
Roland keyboards
Chrissy Thomas and
Grace University Chorale, Omaha, Nebraska
Additional vocals

Produced by Marc Allen and Clare Patterson
VS-1680 digital recorder courtesy of Roland Corp, Sydney, Australia

© 1998 C. Patterson & M. Allen

On January 22nd, 1998, Pastor Dennis Patterson, conducted a sunset memorial service aboard a charted vessel, to scatter Michael’s ashes on Sydney Harbour. Immediate family members, the band and closest friends who attended will probably never forget that most spiritual and private hour. Around 8:00 p.m. that evening, Sydney’s skies were in all their glory. Ethereal hues splashed out over a pastel sky that silhouetted the Harbour Bridge, the Opera House and the city skyline. They called it Michael’s sunset. The series of events that had led to this sorrowful gathering were barely sinking in. Emotions were still vacillating from, shock, grief, bewilderment, numbness. Yet in hindsight, it seems the moving of sovereign grace was already at work, orchestrating a series of almost incredible circumstances that culminated in what felt like a covering cloud of compassion over the “The Ambience” vessel on that warm, calm summer evening.

Letters of compassion

After Michael’s death Kell and Susie went to Bali in early December to seek some peace and spiritual solace. On their return Kell continued to wade his way through a sea of letters that had arrived since Michael’s death. The loving response of INXS fans and the public was overwhelming. One letter that had particularly taken his attention, was from a minister, the Reverend Dennis Patterson. Kell received a telephone call from the Pastor the day before the funeral. Kell had expressed to him how comforting his words were and so Kell requested that he fax them through to him. “It’s only by God’s grace that we had Michael at all. Thank God for the privilege of having Michael as a son for these past 37 years”, the Pastor had said.

Pastor Dennis Patterson had been a rock musician during the 70’s and 80’s and so understood some of the pressures placed on oneself and family. Just two weeks before Michael’s death, Pastor Patterson had lost a colleague and friend, a fellow minister who had booked into a hotel and there taken his life. His friend had been prescribed Prozac for deep depression. So Pastor Patterson had felt strongly about writing to Kell, believing that the comfort God was giving him was to be passed around. He had also known a lot about Michael and INXS. In fact he had been a high school music teacher and had taught music to at least two international rock stars who knew Michael. He wrote to Kell saying he had followed INXS’ career with interest having appreciated their “legend status” from when he was a supervisor of trainee music teachers at Killarney Heights High, where Mike and Andrew first met. Kell decided to give the Pastor a call and they subsequently set up a meeting. Perhaps it was “meant to be”, as had not the Pastor been recovering from a dirt bike accident he would have been away on family holidays and might never have received Kell’s call.

The planning of the ashes ceremony

When they did meet a few days later they discussed Michael, about his boyhood days, when he and Rhett would have Kell drive them to a paddock not far from the Pastor’s office to ride their dirt bikes. There was some mutual comforting and before Kell left he asked Dennis to do conduct Michael’s ashes ceremony. Though he had previously asked the Dean of St Andrew’s, he was now feeling that he wanted Dennis to do it. When Kell learned that the Dean would be on holidays and thus unavailable, he again approached Pastor Dennis Patterson who now readily accepted. Over the coming weeks Kell and the Pastor talked frequently as they planned the ceremony. The question of the ashes became a very vexed subject but in the end it was agreed by all parties that to overcome any arguments the ashes would be divided into three each placed in wooden urns and one each given to Kell and Rhett, his mother Patricia and sister Tina, and another to Paula.

Kell was able at this time to bring strength to everyone. He showed such courage in the patriarchal role, bringing together as best he could the family, the guys in the band, the management and road crew, and Michael’s close friends, including Jimmy Barnes, Michelle Bennett and Jenny Morris.

An old friend of Michael’s is amazingly invited

During the days leading up to the 22nd January, the Pastor planned the ceremony while Kell organised the hiring of the vessel “Ambience” and continued to contact Mike’s closest friends. Pastor Dennis had suggested that they invite his friend Erana Clarke to sing “Amazing Grace” after the scattering of Mike’s ashes. Erana was a Sydney session singer who according to Dennis, “Sings from the heart as well as the throat. She loves to sing Gospel songs since her conversion to Christianity had broken her drug addiction.” While Kell was a little reticent, he trusted the Pastor’s better judgement, after all, others like Jenny Morris could sing too if they had the emotional strength. Erana was overseas on tour and didn’t contact Dennis until she arrived back in Australia, the day before the ceremony. It was only then that the Pastor and Kell truly appreciated the significance of Erana Clarke singing at Mike’s ceremony. Erana had called to say that she was honoured to sing at Mike’s ceremony. What both Kell and Dennis hadn’t realized until they spoke with Erana on her return, was that Erana was a friend of Michael’s… she had toured with INXS as a backing vocalist during the 80’s.

Prayers for calm weather

As the day of the ceremony grew closer, Kell was feeling a little concerned about the Sydney weather. He related how he had years before scattered the ashes of his father at sea during heavy winds. The result was some what undesirable. Pastor Dennis decided they needed some “help” and so he contacted a Christian university in Ohio, USA where he had attended. Over 2,000 students, staff and friends were praying for the lead up and as the event actually happened, though there was such secrecy surrounding the ceremony, they didn’t know exactly for whom they were praying!

The bringing together of improbable friends

The Pastor had also logged into the internet INXS chat room under a pseudonym to fully appreciate the extent of the grieving prior to the ceremony. The chat room closed ranks when they wrongly presumed the Pastor to be a press reporter. He tried in vain to get a “message poem for Michael”. Not realizing who he was, the regular chat roomers used a barrage of coloured language to send the Reverend on his way. The poem Kell eventually used in the ceremony, was taken by the Pastor from a “Tribute to Michael” page on the Internet. It’s strange how tragedy brings such a diversity of people together. Several weeks after the ceremony, the same INXS fans who had unknowingly “attacked” the Reverend, had now sorted out friend from foe, and enthusiastically helped him bring about a world-wide Internet hookup with Kell and INXS fans. Three months to the day after the ashes ceremony, a small representation of the fans flew in from around the world to meet with Kell. They also invited the Pastor to lead them in their own ceremony as they scattered rose petals near to the original site on Sydney Harbour on behalf of INXS fans around the world. Amongst those paying homage were “Kick” from Brisbane, “Brick” from Melbourne, “Yvette” from Tasmania and “Brat” from Canada.

On 22nd January while fans gathered in the Hard Rock Cafes in various cities of the world or linked together on the Internet, Rhett, Mandy, other close relatives, Andrew and Shelley Farriss, Tim Farriss, Kirk Pengilly and Garry and Jodie Beers were arriving at Kell and Susie’s Sydney apartment. After drinks and re-introductions to Erana, and some final planning with the minister, the party made their way down to the harbour side jetty where they were joined by others including Jimmy Barnes and his wife Jane, Jenny Morris, Michele Bennett, Richard Lowenstein, Kell’s sister Iris Croy Magee, Michael’s cousin from England, Sonya Hutchence, Paul Ellis, Greg Perano (Michael’s close friend), INXS tour manager David Edwards, Paul Horton, Andrew Young, Gary Grant, Tony Woodall (Michael’s personal security man), long-time friend Hiraani (whose name Tiger bears) and John Clapham. Fishermen arriving at the jetty could hardly have realized the significance of the gathering before them as sun-glassed mourners, unnoticed, quietly boarded the vessel that would carry Michael’s ashes to a final resting place.

Kell was not sure where to locate the boat to carry out the service but as they solemnly headed off out of Rose Bay he saw that the wind was fairly brisk and as they passed the point of the Vaucluse Peninsula, he asked the skipper to turn right and go into the lee of the hills away from the wind and there luckily he spotted a mooring right opposite Milk Beach near to where Michael had once considered purchasing a house. He loved Australia and particularly the beauty of Sydney Harbour. The Pastor called the group to the bow of the boat. Rhett held Michael’s ashes in a beautifully fashioned wooden urn, made from the same timber as Michael’s casket. There was an awkwardness in the silence as the mourners gradually made their way out from the vessel’s cabin.

The address

The Pastor was the first to speak, welcoming the group and re-assuring them that this was to be a sacred and special time. “I didn’t know Michael like you know him”, he said “And so I have given a lot of thought as to what I can tell you. I thought it best that I tell you what I really believe Michael would want me to say… so I want to tell you what heaven is like and how you find your way there.” The Pastor continued through a series of humorous INXS anecdotes, illustrating what heaven was like and not like. He referred to a man who two thousand years ago, was about to die and cross over into the spiritual world. He wanted to comfort his closest friends and so he said,

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going… I am the way, the truth and the life. John 14:1-3, 6 (NIV)

He firstly referred to a story told by Tim. The band were in Australia travelling to an outback gig in a light aircraft. The pilot had forgotten his maps, they had lost their way and so they were trying to follow roads to get back home. Andrew is somewhat apprehensive about flying, so the situation became challenging to say the least, when the pilot fell asleep on Andrew’s shoulder, leaving a very nervous Andrew with the controls as the plane continued through the darkness. This was to illustrate that there is no fear in heaven for those who are trusting in Jesus and that He is the good pilot who leads us safely to our final destination.

The second story referred to how during a show one night, the backing vocalist, Jenny Morris was wearing jeans that were not quite tailored to her size and so in front of an audience of thousands, the jeans split.

“Heaven’s not like those jeans,” the pastor continued, “heaven is our perfect home… tailor made… a place where we fit and it fits us.”

In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. John 14:2

“Heaven is not like the sky rocket either that the band attempted to launch in a US desert one night. They waited months to launch that thing and it ended up a “fizzer”. Two thousand years in preparation… heaven is worth the wait. ”

The final INXS story referred to the night the band were throwing each other into the audience. Up until the point that Kirk was thrown in, the audience obligingly had been cushioning their fall. But the crowd, seeing Kirk coming guitar and all, parted, leaving poor Kirk to land heavily on the floor. “Heaven is not like that. We are not thrown out into the unknown only to land painfully. We are lovingly led there. It is certainly true all pain is taken… there are no tears in heaven”.

For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their
shepherd; he will lead them to springs of living water.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Rev. 7:17

The Pastor concluded with a challenge, “Michael is probably regretting he couldn’t be with us. Let us not waste this moment, but let his death motivate us all to dig deeper spiritually.”

At the conclusion of the pastoral address, Michael’s family and friends prayed “The Lord’s Prayer” which was followed by a brief pastoral prayer for the committing of Michael’s ashes. This was a most reverent time as Rhett and Kell scattered the ashes, followed by Susie and others who cast bright flowers onto the waters. A minute of silence was then observed in honour of Michael. People were now openly weeping. In the stillness of that moment , the harbour sounds and the weeping were like a requiem for Michael. The weeping became the prelude to what was to follow next. Erana Clarke raised her shoulders and began singing a crying lament, sounds known perhaps only to a native Maori. Those sounds were haunting yet strangely comforting and they seamlessly rolled into a celebration anthem… “Amazing Grace”. The power and the beauty of Erana’s voice reverberated around the harbour. Like the purity of a church bell it continued to ring out, changing key through every stanza until the final crescendo of

When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we first begun.

Only the singing voice could have portrayed the sorrow for Michael during that poignant moment… and as the sun retreated behind the horizon a day and an era had come to an end.

The silence was broken by Pastor Dennis Patterson, who now invited family and friends to informally eulogize Michael.

Kell spoke first, words from a father whose heart was broken. He faulted through an anonymous poem by an INXS fan, his voice breaking with deep emotion. Yet he spoke with thankfulness for the privilege of being a father to Michael. Rhett followed, expressing his love, sorrow and deepest respect for a unique brother. Others were to follow including Jenny Morris who also offered a song and then Andrew Farriss, still struggling with the loss of a dear mate. Andrew spoke of Michael’s genius with words. He related stories, funny stories of their school days. He thanked the pastor for reading from the Bible. “Michael would have liked that” , he said “I don’t care what anyone thinks now, but Michael and I loved the years we spent together as teenagers in a church youth group.”

Gary Grant, INXS Tour Manager, had his story to tell too. During a tour of Japan, Michael and he were in an upper room of a hotel listening to the chanting of fans below. “Watch this,” said Michael, “And he stuck his head and torso out the window, much to the delight of the crowd below.” What happened next is typically Michael. He said to Gary “Hey, come and see what it’s like to be me.” He then set about taking of his shirt and sun glasses, so he could use them to disguise Gary. Now dressed as Michael Hutchence the rock star, Gary stuck his head out the window and waved to the crowd. Again there was an instant uproar of delight. When a stunned Gary withdrew back into the room, Michael smiled, “See, don’t they love me!”

By this time everyone aboard the vessel was smiling, laughing, crying, celebrating Michael.

It seemed now an appropriate time to continue celebrating Michael. It was 22nd January, Michael’s birthday. Kell called for glasses and drinks and proposed a toast to Michael. “Happy birthday, Michael!” was echoed around the vessel. The evening was still young as a buffet dinner was served. Family and friends grouped in huddles, comforting one another, exchanging stories. It was a sweet time with sweet memories of Michael. Many expressed feeling a great comfort come over them during the ceremony. “I have never felt such comfort,” said Jenny Morris. Jimmy Barnes gave the minister a hug. It was Jimmy’s way of saying, “Thank you.” Kell and Susie, Rhett and Mandy, Tim, Andrew, Kirk, Garry, and all of Michael’s dearest friends somehow found the grace and strength that night to say goodbye to Michael.

At around 10:00 pm the vessel weighed anchor, moved off from the memorial waters and continued on it’s journey.

For Hutch

So the birds have flown
The ashes are cold
You will never be lonely
You will never grow old
No tears from gentle eyes will fall
Now that your pain is gone

But for me, my friend, I see no spark
In those good eyes
I hear no shout at my front door
I will sit here evermore
And count the empty years.

The birds flew in from everywhere
And all spoke of your magic
And those of pomp and circumstance
Waxed eloquent and long
But very few who knew your song
Will ever be the same
I went down to the shore today
But the ocean made no sense.

And nests are built of heartfelt words
And warmth and truth and beauty
Of wild nights and loud, long songs
Carnival, bacchanale
Stupid dreams that never end
Pieces that have built a friend
And the wind destroys them all
The pieces fall
They will not fit together
Not now, not ever.

I sit selfishly and cry
Clench my fists and try to crush all thought
What was that sound?
Who goes there
Run dumb fingers through my hair
Every thing is useless
All the words of friends fall on deaf ear
And nothing will make sense
Until, you, my friend, are here.

So the birds have flown
Will not be back
But I will sit on the sad shore
Talk to you, watch the sky for your return
How did we ever get so close?
Long ago, it was so simple
Naive fools in naive gangs
Taking on the world
Now the world has won
And we have lost.

So make them laugh out there
Make them know of your good heart
Your wild streak, your simple art
Your impish grin, your wolf impression
But never make them sad.

And the birds still sing a lonely song
Nights come down like sad blankets on empty hills
The rest of the fools meander along
Oblivious to the truth
I sit and watch them fly
Blood red wings on an early evening sky
I watch them go, and gone
Wonder if they sing his song
Or do my ears deceive me?

And love is just a four-lettered word
And soul is just a motown song
And friends are never here that long
Forever ended yesterday, close is much too far away
And nothing makes me warm
Please send another storm
So that some thing will make sense

Always and forever, brother
One foolish dreamer to another
We’ll meet again, sweet friend.

Greg Perano, November 1997

The Very Reverend Boak Jobbins, Dean of Sydney, St Andrews Anglican Cathedral

MICHAEL KELLAND HUTCHENCE
We are here as people whose lives have been touched by Michael Hutchence – some of us remotely, some of us in the closeness of family life and friendship. We are here in a Christian Cathedral, brought face to face with death, an untimely death, a death that did not come in the way we expect or believe that death should come. What do you do in the face of death?

1. Be Thankful
All of us here have memories, recollections of Michael; some of them are longstanding, from the intimacy of family life; for others they are more recent, from the circles of friendship, members of the band, professional colleagues, fans. We are grateful to those who have already spoken for bringing these memories to our minds.

What we must do is to take the opportunity to thank God for the person whose life we shared and who made these memories possible:

Michael, the loyal son and brother who always kept in touch;
Michael, the devoted partner, thrilled at being a father;
Michael, to those who knew him closely, the gentle and generous one;
Michael, who shared his time and talents with charities for the wellbeing of others;
Michael, who brought joy and delight to millions.

2. Be Human
Someone you loved is dead, and you will not see him, someone you counted on is gone, and he won’t be there; someone who was your rock is no more. And in that, there is pain, loss, hurt: and it must be.

The pain, the loss, the hurt are made worse by the suggestion that this was a death of despair: what was it about his life- its circumstances, its nature, its pressures – that it could be beyond bearing?

Funerals bring us face to face with questions like that. They are one of the few opportunities we have to share our humanness with each other – our pain, our loss, our questions, our despair. With a word, a touch, an act of kindness to say “I hurt and I know you hurt – I feel for you – I so wish it were otherwise”.

So often, we don’t say those things to each other, perhaps because we’re busy, or embarrassed or afraid, afraid we’ll say the wrong thing, afraid we won’t say the right or clever thing.

There is no right thing, no clever thing to say: nothing we say will change death or change the pain of grief today. There is simply the opportunity to stand with other human beings and identify with them in their grief. Our presence, our fumbled words, our practical helps, all of them ways of being human, all of them ways of seeking to comfort and support each other.

3. Be Realistic
None of us likes occasions like this: I don’t like them, and you don’t like them. The great temptation is to make believe, to get caught up in the planning and excitement of a large gathering like this, to be preoccupied with yet another picture, yet another rumour to be distracted, to pretend, somehow to try to rob the event of its starkness and its reality.

But death is real – Michael’s death is real – and death waits for each one of us. It is a sinister figure in black, patiently waiting, knowing that in time each of us will meet him. The lives of all of us run their course and finish, sooner or later, suddenly or in the fullness of time.

Over against that, there is a magnificent truth: God hates death. God hates death so much that, in his extravagant love, he surrendered what matters most to him – his own Son – to deal with it: death will not hold sway forever; the time will come when God will end death for his people. For those who are God’s friends, for those who are on God’s side, for those who hope for the present and the future is not in themselves but in Jesus who endured death in their place, for them God has smashed the power of death and gives them life forever.

That is what I mean by “be realistic”. Death cannot be avoided: but it can be transformed.

Human beings have experienced the mystery of death, and the pain of grief, since time immemorial. Every society has developed rites to mark the passage from life through death, and to commemorate the dead. Today we do that through this service. The wounds of grief need time and care to heal. The service may help this process, by enabling us to acknowledge our loss, give thanks for the life of Michael, make our last farewell, and begin to take up life once more. Christians believe in God, the source and giver of life. God’s good news proclaims Jesus Christ to be our living Lord, who laid down his life for us. He knew death, yet triumphed over it, drawing its sting, and was raised by God to new life. Christians affirm the presence of the Spirit of Christ, who helps us in our weakness. Yet we, with all mortals, still face death. Those who put their trust in Christ share the sufferings of their Lord, even in the midst of God’s love and care. In this service, we proclaim the Christian hope in the face of death – Jesus Christ, whose resurrection is the promise of our own.

I’ve been asked to speak today on behalf of Michael’s millions of fans .. for whom this tragedy has made the world a much darker place.

Firstly … to Michael’s close friends … his family … and his band mates … we send our heartfelt wishes of support … We share your sorrow at this horrible time … We mourn with you and we want you to know that your grief is being shared by all of us who looked up to Michael.

Michael Hutchence was a star … in every sense of word. He shone his light into our lives .. and he made the world a brighter place … He loved life … and we loved his life … and to some degree, each of us, at some time … shared it with him.

We admired his talent .. We respected his dignity .. and we envied his cool. For the fans, it was never about headlines .. It was only ever about the music .. and he loved his music .. his lyrics ..his memories .. even his guitar solos!

The music Michael and his friends made ..
will live in each of us.

Michael made us Dance …
and made us Sing.
He made us Laugh …
and made us Cry.

He was everything we wanted him to be.
He was one in many millions …
and we can’t believe he is gone.

On behalf of your many fans, Michael …
THANK YOU …
You touched us all during your time here …

We’ll miss you, Mate!
But we’ll never let you die.

Richard Wilkins

---

A life so vital and gifted and full of promise, as God created from the first. Who knows what goes through a man’s thoughts, except his own spirit that is within him. Only he and the Lord know. He answers every prayer. His mercies are new every morning and a new light will dawn.

The following is a saying from the indigenous people of the world. You have noticed that everything a man does is in a circle and that is because the power of the world always works in circles and everything tries to be round. The sky is round and I have heard that the earth is round like a ball and so are the stars.

The wind in its greatest power whirls. Birds make nests in circles for theirs is the same religion as ours. Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing and always come back again to where they were.

The life of a man is a circle from childhood to childbirth and so it is in everything where power moves.

I would like to thank all the people that helped us make this possible today and your kindness and support is gratefully accepted. We would like to thank all those who have sent flowers and condolences. It has been very much appreciated.

I would like to share with you on behalf of myself and the members of INXS some thoughts about our friend and workmate Michael Hutchence. We met as school friends, we played music because we loved it.

Together with Michael we experienced some very hard times and some very good times. The hard times made us stronger and the good times we will always cherish. As a songwriting team for more than 20 years he and I had written hundreds of songs together.

His lyrics are the soul and depth which have touched millions of people around the earth.

He had exceptional communication skills. Michael was one of the greatest singers and stage performers of his generation. We are so proud to have worked and played with such a talented and gifted man.

Over the years INXS have had every type of media imaginable – the best and the worst. That is human nature. Some have chosen to judge Michael harshly. But tragically they chose not to tell one glaring truth. Michael had spent almost his entire adult life performing and giving 110 per cent of his being to entertaining people around the world.

He gave himself away to bring enjoyment and happiness into other people’s lives. What price is happiness?

Michael was a sociable guy and yet he took life seriously. He had great courage. He stood up to those he felt he needed to stand up to. He loved to travel and explore the world. He loved Australia. He loved his friends.

He loved his family. He was a caring father and a passionate family man. He loved music and he loved his fans. We ask that the band’s fans and for those who are touched by his death not to react in any ways to hurt themselves. Michael would not have wanted that.

We will remember him with love and affection. We will all miss you Michael. God bless you.

Andrew Farriss

---

On November 28, 1996, my brother was in Los Angeles and he spent Thanksgiving with us and it was a wonderful Thanksgiving. We held hands around the table and we gave thanks for all our blessings.

Today, November 27, 1997, is also Thanksgiving Day. I give thanks for being blessed to have my brother. The kindest most deeply sensitive, loving man.

I received a fax today from Gibson Kemp and I think the band would certainly like to hear this.

Do not stand at my band and weep, I am not there, I do not sleep, I am a thousand winds that blow, I am the diamond glints on snow, I am the sunlight on rice and grain, I am the gentle autumn’s rain, when you awaken in the morning hush, I am the swift uplifting rush, a quiet bird’s encircled flight, I am the soft stars that shine at night, do not stand at my grave and cry, I am not there and did not die.

Tina Hutchence

---

A part of me died the other day and strangely a part of me was born, and then there is the part that will carry the memory of my brother Michael forever in my heart.

Michael and I were only two years apart when we grew up arm-in-arm. From the very beginning all the signs were there that Michael was destined to lead an extraordinary life. When he first opened his soulful eyes, he had two loving wonderful parents Patricia and Kelland from whom he inherited gentlemanly charm, accommodating nature and charisma.

With the help of our sister Tina, who played an integral part, feeding, helping, bathing, caring and being, when finally Mike came along our family was complete.

I have an early lyric book of Michael’s in which when he first started writing (and) there is a list of 10 things he wanted to achieve in his life. The first one was to conquer the world. I can’t remember what the other nine were but I’m sure he achieved them too.

Michael was a poet, a singer and a gifted performer. He touched the lives of everybody he met, even people he never met.

It hasn’t been easy being Michael’s brother, it’s strange, it’s been fantastic at times and other times the hardest, but having Michael for my brother I wouldn’t have had it any other way.

My heart goes out to Paula and beautiful, darling girl Tiger, and the other girls, to the band, to his friends and people who have known Michael and lost a tremendous friend.

Thanks to the support from friends, the love I’m receiving at the moment is helping me through this.

I cannot stress enough the importance of friendship and love in today’s times.

The other night I went and spent some time in the room, his room at the Ritz, to see if it had any answers. It seemed a sad room, it definitely wasn’t Michael.

And if Michael, who loved Oscar Wilde, would have identified with the famous poet’s last words “either this wallpaper goes or I do” then I understand.

On behalf of Michael I would like to thank my family for the love they gave him and together these words may have meaning for us all.

To mourn too long for those who we love is self-indulgent, but to honour their memory with a promise to live a little better for having known them gives purpose to their life and some reason for their death.

Rest in peace Bro. I love you. I will miss you.

Rhett Hutchence

With Thanksgiving for the Life of Michael Kelland Hutchence
22nd January 1960 – 22nd November 1997
Thursday, 27th November 1997, 2:30 pm
St Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney

Before the service begins, “By My side” by INXS is played.
(The people stand as the Choir and Clergy enter the Cathetral).

GATHERING IN GODS NAME

THE GREETING
The Very Reverend Boak Jobbins, Dean of Sydney

SCRIPTURE SENTENCES
(Sung by the Choir) Croft

I am the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live, and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.
John 11: 25-6

I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth. And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another.
Job 19: 25-7

We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.
1 Timothy 6: 7, Job 1: 21

PRAYER
(Led by Bradley Watt, said by all)

Loving God, you alone are the source of life.
May your life-giving Spirit flow through us,
and fill us with compassion, one for another.
In our sorrow give us the calm of your peace.
Kindle our hope, and let our grief give way to joy;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The people sit.

THE REMEMBRANCE

EULOGY
Richard Wilkins, Music Journalist

MUSIC
“Into My Arms”, Nick Cave

TRIBUTES
Andrew Farris, INXS
Tina Schorr
Rhett Hutchence

THE MINISTRY OF GOD’S WORD

PSALM
(Sung by the Choir)

I lift up my eyes to the hills: but where shall I find help? My help comes from the Lord: who has made heaven and earth. He will not suffer your foot to stumble: and he who watches over you will not sleep. Be sure he who has charge of Israel: will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord himself is your keeper: the Lord is your defence upon your right hand; The sun shall not strike you by day: nor shall the moon by night. The Lord will defend you from all evil: it is he who will guard your life. The Lord will defend your going out and your coming in: from this time forward for ever more. Glory to God; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit: as in the beginning, so now, and for ever. Amen.

BIBLE READING
1 Corinthians 15
The Very Reverend Boak Jobbins

HYMN
(The people stand)
Crimond
1 The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want.
He makes me down to lie
in pastures green, he leadeth me
the quiet waters by.

2 My soul he doth restore again;
and me to walk doth make
within the paths of righteousness,
e’en for his own name’s sake.

3 Yea, though I walk in death’s dark vale,
yet will I fear non ill:
for thou art with me; and thy rod
and staff me comfort still.

4 My table thou has furnished
in presence of my foes
my head thou dost with oil anoint,
and my cup overflows

5 Goodness and mercy all my life
shall sureley follow me:
and in God’s house for evermore
my dwelling-place shall be.

THE PRAYERS (Led by Canon Jim Holbeck)

THE LORD’S PRAYER (Said by all)
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your Name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.

THE GRACE (Said by all)
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all evermore. Amen.

THE BLESSING    The Dean
The people stand as the procession leaves the Cathedral.

Never Tear Us Apart by INXS is played.

Please remain in the Cathedral until after the family and other chief mourners have left.

St Andrew’s Cathedral Choir, directed by Michael Deasey, Organist and Master of the Choristers.
Organist: Mark Quarmby.