Walk-to-Remember 2026
Sunday 25th October saw some 100 TCF Members coming together for our annual walk, in memory of our children, brothers, sisters and grandchildren.
It was a bit of an unknown entity this year, as we had decided upon a new venue in Centennial Park, with the walk along the Grand Drive – a 3.5km track in this beautiful setting. Our starting and end point was the Discovery Centre – which offered everything, come hail, rain or shine – but we need not have worried – as Sydney put on a beautiful, sunny day that made it ideal for a gentle walk through the park.
At the end of the walk, everyone then shared some time together in this lovely environment, enjoying a barbecue lunch, musical entertainment (courtesy of Bernie Segedin) and face painting for the little ones.
It was a wonderful day, that allowed us to share stories of our loved ones, be visible to the Sydney community and feel the support that comes from the Compassionate Friends.
No event just happens though, without the concerted effort of our volunteers and at the end of the walk, our President, Chris Hardwicke shared a few words and a list of “thank yous” to everyone that had helped in creating a wonderful, memorable day. This message has now been loaded below.
Walk-to- Remember 2026
Ladies, Gentlemen & Little people,
Thank you all for coming along today to our annual TCF “Walk-to-Remember”.
In thinking about what I wanted to share with you, I asked myself the question, “Why?”
Why are we walking, why are we here in our T-Shirts, walking around a beautiful park in the middle of Sydney.
I know the answer is really quite simple: because we loved someone that is no longer physically here with us.
That someone, who now will always be carried in our heart.
That someone, that we want the world to remember:
To remember their smile, their laughter, their joy, their sadness, their love, their just “being” here.
To say their name, to talk about them, to share stories about them, to share the love that is so apparent, when we talk about them.
We all love to share stories about all of our children, brothers, sisters and grandchildren – because they’re “ours”.
Every single one of our family members have added to the tapestry of our own lives, and it doesn’t matter how long or how little time our loved ones were with us – they have left a mark, that can never be erased.
In the early days, like all of you, I often wondered how I could ever go on, without one of my children, but we do.
In reality we don’t really have a choice.
We put one foot in front of the other as we continue on our own journey through this life. It just feels a lot harder.
You know, when our children are small, they often struggle finding the right words to describe the experience of living in the world around them.
With age, as they grow, we come to realise that that they have developed their own sense of a place in the world., their own sense of reality and what it means to be alive, to have thoughts and opinions of their own.
Then with the maturity of the teenage years and adult life, there comes a perspective that stamps a philosophy of who they are, and how they relate to the world and people around them.
But how do they get to this point…….? Sure the environment will influence and mould them, but also the relationship within the family, with the people that love them the most, that care about every element of their lives.
I hope that all of my children took something from my parenting, that has contributed to their value system – as they become their own person.
And now as a father that has lost a child, I wonder what “my little person” in her wisdom might say to me.
I think it would go along the lines of, “Dad – get on with life.
None of us know what might happen tomorrow or even in the next five minutes – so don’t waste it.
Carry me, as you did when I was small. Sometimes I might feel really heavy – but other times, we’ll jog along, laughing enjoying the sun on our faces, and enjoy just being together.
I know you will never forget me, but remind the world that I once added to the beauty of this creation.
But don’t waste it Dad. Live for me”.
I hope there is something there, that resonates for all of you.
There is an old adage that we don’t really die until the world stops remembering and stops hearing our name – and so that’s why we are walking today, remembering our loved ones, appreciating every day that we have and reminding the world of our beautiful children.
Days like this don’t just happen though - and there are people that we need to acknowledge in having made this event possible.
I will always be grateful to the South Eastern Sydney Local Health District for their continued funding of our charity.
Donations that have been made: Vitality Brands for the suncream
Ann & Kate Wilson, from Wilson Family Funerals for the bottled water.
For our St. John Ambulance Volunteers – Alan Wong & Menuse Oishi
For our musician – Bernie Segedin
For Margaret, on her movement advice
For Will – who unfortunately didn’t get the chance to share his “cool down” knowledge (next year!)
For our helpers today:
Joy Rappo,
Denise Terry
Lana Grant
Jo Moses (our office staff member), and Michelle Wafta & Ann Johnson (our office volunteers)
The barbecue team: Peter, Philip, Ben, & Derek
My fellow Board members – Peter Rappo, Steve Ranson, Caitriona Farrell, Kym Bailey
And finally, the Rappo & Hardwicke Families for providing the food for our lunch today.
Enjoy the day. Talk about your loved ones – and remember – you do not walk alone.
Chris Hardwicke
President