Pearcedale Football Club secretary Karen Halket with Sue Murray and some local boys at the burnt seat.
By Sally Bird
A PEARCEDALE family was devastated to discover that the seat placed at the Pearcedale Football Club in memory of their son, a club player who died suddenly 18 months ago, was set on fire on his birthday.
Jamie Murray died while taking a bath in December 2006. A coroner’s report failed to determine the cause of death.
Sue Murray said last year on his birthday, 13 June, it was so soon after his death that the family was all still in shock.
“Last year we were all still numb, it was just a blur. This year we wanted to go to the seat and spend time with him.”
Sue Murray said she went to the seat with her mother on Friday which was the anniversary of Jamie’s 23rd birthday.
Mrs Murray said they were devastated to see the seat had been set on fire.
“I just couldn’t believe it. Why would someone do that? We were so shocked. The children from the school (Pearcedale Primary School) came over to see why we were there, and when they realised what had happened they started singing happy birthday to James.
“It was so spontaneous and so moving. There must have been about 15 of them. It restored my faith in mankind,” she said.
Mrs Murray said she went home and rang her husband John, and three remaining sons, Luke, Daniel and Matthew, who were still at work and planned to go there afterwards.
“It was such a shock to see it as you come up the hill,” she said.
She said when they thought about it later, they thought the seat may have been set on fire accidentally by candles that had been left by some of Jamie’s friends who had gone down the night before to also spend time with him on his birthday.
“It looks like they may have placed candles along the arm, then maybe they’d left and the candles blew over and set the seat on fire,” she said.
“I’d just like to know. Not knowing is awful. If that’s what happened I’d understand. I’m not mad or anything, I’d just like to know.”
Mrs Murray said that if the seat could be repaired they would make arrangements to have it done.
