This is Samantha Dunworth. She was a talented photographer, film maker and fire spinner who sensitively captured the beauty of the northern beaches and Narrabeen Lake. She made a stunning film called Northern Beaches Spectacular and many films of herself performing fire poi and glow poi. She loved the freedom she felt when she rode her scooter. 

Samantha started to transition as a transgender woman when she was 17. She had many difficult challenges to face but tried her best to overcome them all. She suffered from anxiety and depression, insomnia and anorexia. 

After a few years of transitioning her anxiety worsened and she tried to numb the pain with alcohol and marijuana. Despite our full support as a family, seeing councillors and doctors, and our pleas for her to go to rehab she was very reluctant to accept help. 

Two years before she died she was suicidal and ended up in hospital overnight. The long term use of alcohol affected her liver and she died suddenly and unexpectedly, just three days before her 23rd birthday. She had a catastrophic gastrointestinal bleed. 

Samantha didn’t want to die, but living as a trans woman was very lonely and hard for her. She often felt the discrimination and violence towards trans people, but also found it hard to accept herself, and the care from her loving family and friends. 

She is greatly missed every moment of every day.  

Samantha Dunworth - 2/9/98 - 30/8/21