Tom Singer, lost in a ‘coward’s war’

Sydney
1 Dec 2002

St Cecilia’s children go ‘bush’ for the day

Radical bid for men-only teaching job offers

Crackerjack way to see charity in action

Destruction of human life for profit - research fear

Fr John says ‘thank you’ and ‘goodbye’

Real meaning of Christmas

Perth statue: Archbishop orders inquiry

... deported, then disappeared or dead

Avoid war at all costs: Caritas

Christmas Bowl gets helping hand from a Leunig angel

Govt bows to Church pressure

A walk against war

Persecution: UN should be forced to act

Casting a NET to reach young adults, older kids

Tom Singer, lost in a ‘coward’s war’

Asylum seeker kids allowed to attend Catholic school

Editorial: When aid is misused

Letters: Breadwinners?

Conversation: Terry Underwood, Ambassador, Year of the Outback

Reflections: US bishops pose questions on Iraq

Kids go ‘bush’ at St Cecilia’s to help drought victims

It’s ‘family first’ for SOS (son of Sergio)

Dad had to face racism on field

Retreat helps with the healing

Love of books pays off for coastal school

‘Greedy people’ let the needy go without

Third degree burns

Tom Singer, lost in a ‘coward’s war’

By Damir Govorcin

“We lost you in war, Tom. It’s a coward’s war, where one side holds all the advantage.

“It’s a war with no frontline, a war of soft targets, a war that does not discriminate on the basis of sex, nationality and age … it is inconceivable that the perpetrators of this act could have ever experienced the unconditional love of a child or have been nurtured by a loving family.”

That’s how, in his eulogy, Peter Singer described the cowardly act which took the life of his 17-year-old son,

Tom (pictured), in the Bali bombings.

Tom became the human face of the Bali tragedy. The Daily Telegraph newspaper used a photo of him as a symbol of hope in the aftermath of the bombings.

It showed him being assisted from the rubble by a rescuer whom the Telegraph described as his earthly “angel”; an image of heroism among the bloodshed.

To many, this was a sign that Tom was fine.

However, a few days later he was in intensive care, and during the next month he fought a courageous battle for life.

Australia prayed and hoped that he would pull through.

With third degree burns to more than 60 per cent of his body, Tom overcame respiratory and renal failure only to suffer a stroke three days before his death.

The Church of the Holy Family, Maroubra, was full to capacity to say goodbye to a teenager who loved his family, friends and the surf.

“We thank God for the gift of Tom Singer. What a beautiful and loving creation,” said Mons Brian Rayner, in his homily.

“We are richer for Tom’s presence among us. We are poorer for his passing.”

Tom was a member of the Society of St Stephen altar servers in the Maroubra Parish.

Mons Rayner said: “Tom served the Lord at this particular altar, as well as by working as a junior assistant at the Catholic Inquiry Centre at Maroubra.”

Along with his brother Adam, Tom served at Easter and Christmas Masses and was an inspiration to many of the young people at the parish.

Tom was a keen sportsman, who loved to surf at his beloved Maroubra beach. He was also a volunteer member of the Coogee Surf Lifesaving Club.

He was held in such high regard at the club that more than 300 members attended his funeral.

In a symbolic and moving gesture, 25 of his friends paddled out from the southern end of Maroubra beach and pushed his surfboard out to sea.

Year 11 schoolmates from Marist College, Pagewood, are still trying to come to terms with his death.

His friend, Ryan James, says Tom approached his life in a loving and honest way.

Tom’s father, Peter, spoke of the laconic humour of the young Australian who loved his country and his sport.

This was the second funeral for a victim of Bali to be held at the Maroubra parish in the past few weeks.

One parishioner said: “I cry at the thought of what his family has lost and my only comfort is that he can now ride that eternal wave in heaven.”