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Wednesday, January 19, 2011 8:05:12 PM
Black days ahead as hero Jordan Rice laid to rest with mother Donna
* By Greg Stolz .. * From: The Courier-Mail .. * January 19, 2011 1:00AM
Video inside.
Friends of Jordan at the funeral of Donna Rice, 43 and Jordan, 13 at
Drayton and Toowoomba Cemetery. Picture: Craig Greenhill Source: The Courier-Mail
IN matching white coffins, placed on top of each other and covered in flowers, Toowoomba flood
victims Donna and Jordan Rice were laid to rest together today at a moving graveside ceremony.
Mrs Rice and her 13-year-old son were swept to their deaths in last week's
flash flood which roared through the garden city, after a rescue rope snapped.
It was the first funeral for the 20 Queensland flood victims identified so far.
Jordan was hailed a hero after sacrificing his life to save his little brother Blake, 10.
Clutching tissues and with his head bowed, a tearful and bereft-looking Blake
joined his father John Tyson and older brothers Kyle, 16, and Chris, 22, as pall bearers.
Before hundreds of mourners in the leafy grounds of the Drayton and Toowoomba Cemetry, the caskets were marched
in one at a time - Mrs Rice's to the strains of Eric Clapton's Tears in Heaven, Jordan's to Cat Stevens' Father and Son.
Among the mourners was Warren McErlean, the shattered rescuer who tried in vain to save Mrs Rice and her son.
Today, he threw a comforting arm around Blake, who he managed to pluck to safety from the Toowoomba torrent.
Mr Tyson and Chris both paid emotional tributes to their lost loved ones.
Chris told how he had taunted Jordan, nicknamed "Weedsy", for "always
being such a sook" - only to see his brother die as his "little hero".
"You were so shy, always hanging off mum," he said.
"You were petrified of water, heights and even the dark. How wrong was I - here
you go losing your life from one of your biggest fears to save your little brother.
"You made me so proud. What you did took heart, courage and love.
"You're my little hero. I love you Weedsy."
Mr Tyson said Donna was "the perfect mum", cooking, cleaning and doting on doting on
her children, the while Jordan was "quiet, reserved but also loving and very protective".
"I don't think I can put into words just how much I'll miss them,"said.
"The fire in my heart will continue to burn until my time comes to join them. But until then, all I can do is
think of you both and tell anyone who'll listen just how much I love youse both and how special you are.
"God speed, my little angels."
As the bodies were committed - first Mrs Rice and then Jordan - mourners released dozens of colorful balloons into the sky.
Jordan was buried on top of Mrs Rice, symbolising a child in his mother's arms.
http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/floodrelief/black-days-ahead-as-hero-son-laid-to-rest-with-mother/story-fn7ik2te-1225990712530
* By Greg Stolz .. * From: The Courier-Mail .. * January 19, 2011 1:00AM
Video inside.
Friends of Jordan at the funeral of Donna Rice, 43 and Jordan, 13 at
Drayton and Toowoomba Cemetery. Picture: Craig Greenhill Source: The Courier-Mail
IN matching white coffins, placed on top of each other and covered in flowers, Toowoomba flood
victims Donna and Jordan Rice were laid to rest together today at a moving graveside ceremony.
Mrs Rice and her 13-year-old son were swept to their deaths in last week's
flash flood which roared through the garden city, after a rescue rope snapped.
It was the first funeral for the 20 Queensland flood victims identified so far.
Jordan was hailed a hero after sacrificing his life to save his little brother Blake, 10.
Clutching tissues and with his head bowed, a tearful and bereft-looking Blake
joined his father John Tyson and older brothers Kyle, 16, and Chris, 22, as pall bearers.
Before hundreds of mourners in the leafy grounds of the Drayton and Toowoomba Cemetry, the caskets were marched
in one at a time - Mrs Rice's to the strains of Eric Clapton's Tears in Heaven, Jordan's to Cat Stevens' Father and Son.
Among the mourners was Warren McErlean, the shattered rescuer who tried in vain to save Mrs Rice and her son.
Today, he threw a comforting arm around Blake, who he managed to pluck to safety from the Toowoomba torrent.
Mr Tyson and Chris both paid emotional tributes to their lost loved ones.
Chris told how he had taunted Jordan, nicknamed "Weedsy", for "always
being such a sook" - only to see his brother die as his "little hero".
"You were so shy, always hanging off mum," he said.
"You were petrified of water, heights and even the dark. How wrong was I - here
you go losing your life from one of your biggest fears to save your little brother.
"You made me so proud. What you did took heart, courage and love.
"You're my little hero. I love you Weedsy."
Mr Tyson said Donna was "the perfect mum", cooking, cleaning and doting on doting on
her children, the while Jordan was "quiet, reserved but also loving and very protective".
"I don't think I can put into words just how much I'll miss them,"said.
"The fire in my heart will continue to burn until my time comes to join them. But until then, all I can do is
think of you both and tell anyone who'll listen just how much I love youse both and how special you are.
"God speed, my little angels."
As the bodies were committed - first Mrs Rice and then Jordan - mourners released dozens of colorful balloons into the sky.
Jordan was buried on top of Mrs Rice, symbolising a child in his mother's arms.
http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/floodrelief/black-days-ahead-as-hero-son-laid-to-rest-with-mother/story-fn7ik2te-1225990712530
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