From Kelland Hutchence and Family
To our beloved Michael – happy birthday greetings on this your fortieth. We all miss you so deeply son – it just isn’t the same without you around – but today we are going to celebrate your life and play your music loud and clear. Thank you for those wonderful meaningful songs and the happy memories which we cherish so much. God bless you and keep you in love and peace.
From Ian
A hot Australian westerly wind blew across the park as I sat alone on the bench in front of Michael’s memorial stone. The air was crisp and dry. I read the bronze script over and over as if somehow this would bring understanding. It didn’t. The peace and serenity of this place washed over me and I felt the closeness of a caring God. I prayed that Michael would know this peace too. I took out a card from my wallet and wrote a little note to him – a simple “Happy birthday Michael”. Today Michael is 40. I thought back to two years ago as we gathered on the “Ambience” to spread his ashes and still felt the same sense of loss. In an instant I could imagine him with his impish grin, swaying his locks into the wind as he belted out a song that melted all in earshot. I hoped that the joy he brought to so many on those INXS tours would somehow be always valued – that he would always be valued. Remembered as a precious soul who captured the hearts of multitudes. And I thought about his birth and I thought about his death. Birth then death. Today we celebrate his birth the – day he was gifted with life. That is a precious thought. You can only have death because there was the gift of life first. Happy 40th, Michael. You will stay young after all.