Sydney
10 August 2003
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Tribute to the man in the bus shelter
Tribute to the man in the bus shelter
Fr Laurie Christie and Sr Jacinta Fong unveil
the bus shelter plaque honouring the life and memory of Karl Kulper, the
“old gentleman”. Below: Sr Anthea Groves
By Damir Govorcin
Sisters of Charity nuns, St Vincent’s Hospital staff and Darlinghurst locals gathered at the bus shelter in Burton St, Darlinghurst, outside St Vincent’s Hospital.
They were there to pay tribute to Karl Kulper, the “old gentleman” who called it home for 25 years.
Karl Kulper was a homeless man who lived in the bus shelter outside St Vincent’s Hospital in Darlinghurst.
Sr Anthea Groves of the Sisters of Charity at St Vincent’s said: “Karl taught us to practise what we preach, to treat people with compassion and dignity.”
Karl, who was 66 when he died last September, touched so many lives with his gentleness and kindness that his death left the staff at St Vincent’s and people in the neighbouring community in mourning.
There was an outpouring of emotion at his funeral with restaurant workers, doctors, nurses, professors and cleaners paying their final respects to a man who had lived a special life.
Now the Sisters of Charity - with the help of the State Transit Authority - have ensured Karl’s memory will live on.
A plaque celebrating his life is fixed over his ashes, which have been built into the wall of the bus shelter.
The plaque reads: “A resident of St Vincent’s bus stop for 25 years … Karl, in your bus stop in heaven may you rest in peace.”
Sr Anthea says: “We treated Karl like a member of our family and the plaque will be a constant reminder of how special a person he was.
“I never heard him raise his voice or be a threat to anyone.
“He looked after people and they looked after him.”
The nurses at St Vincent’s speak of Karl with great respect and affection for the way he would take care of them.
When they finished their shift at 11pm, Karl would escort them from the hospital and make sure they boarded their buses safely.
Not too much is known about Karl.
He would say little, preferring to let his actions do all the talking.
His wife and child are believed to have died some years ago.
Karl refused to leave the bus shelter, despite the best-intentioned efforts to find him a flat.
He had his daily routine. He would go from café to café, eating his favourite bacon and egg sandwiches.
Karl went to school at St Gregory’s
Marist Brothers College, Campbelltown, from 1947-50. His report cards say he was a good student, with an excellent character.
And he was a good singer as well.
Why would a man choose to live his life in a bus shelter? No one knows, because no one questioned Karl about it.
People did not judge him, and he did not judge anyone.
Fr Laurie Christie, St Vincent’s Hospital chaplain says: “Karl allowed all of us to exercise love and concern. We were safe in the knowledge that someone cared.
“Because he was always there, he enabled us to act with justice.
“He helped us come closer to God.
“Let’s hope there’s a cargo van in heaven so he can put his oranges in it.”