By DAVID NAGEL
“ANYBODY that has had anything to do with him came out a better person -without a doubt.”
The words of Todd Devine, sum up the feeling from around the local community about his son, and his inspiration, Ethan, who passed away, at the age of just 15 on Tuesday 5 May.
Todd, a former Berwick and ROC footballer, and current day Berwick assistant-coach, had a message to share on behalf of Ethan, who spent the last five years of his life in a wheelchair.
“Anybody with a disability needs support,” Todd said in an emotional plea.
“When he first got his wheelchair, I remember pushing him through a supermarket and just looking at people staring at him as we went by. He just had his head down and he was trying to find himself.
“People deal with disabled people similar to they do a car accident, they slow down to have a look, and then they speed off.
“We look, then we look away and we keep on walking.
“It’s incredibly important to keep our heads up, look them in the eye, and give them a beautiful smile, because the strength and confidence that it gives them helps them through every day of their lives.”
Todd said Ethan was the bravest kid he had ever met, and then thanked the community for their overwhelming messages of support that have helped him and his wife Trish through some tough times.
“The general community support has just been fantastic,” he said.
“Trish and I were just so touched, it means a lot to our family,” he said.
The funeral service for Ethan Devine was held at St Michael’s Church, Berwick, on Tuesday 12 May.
