Esme Stevenson (Pachina) born on the 18th – and left on the 18th - 1 + 8 = 9

9 = The number of Christ and the female aspect of the Buddha – Quan Yin.

Born on the 18th June 1916, and departing on the afternoon of Sunday, 18th November, 2001, at an age of 85 years and 5 months old, in her own bed, with no pain, suffering or illness, surrounded by family and people who loved her holding her hand, aware and knowing everyone present, she gave a quiet sigh and slipped away.

She leaves a family and friends who thought the world of her. My brother Dennis, her granddaughter Talia, and I, always knew how very special our mother was and we loved her dearly.

Her life is a celebration of all that was good. It reflected the very best a human being can be. Her great love and dedication in the raising alone of her two children - teaching us independence and strength, always giving us total support and encouragement to be and do whatever felt right for us, her phenomenal endurance and courage in the face of adversity, never complaining and never making demands of others throughout her entire life, and her wonderful wit and humour that stayed with her right to the end.

I will remember always the strength of this great being and if I manage to take even a small particle of her strength with me as I walk the steps of life, I shall truly walk with angels.

The grace and presence of this ancient and wise soul has enriched greatly the lives of all who knew her. Even people who met her briefly never forgot her.

Thank you, Mum. You have been a tower of strength and support to me - all my life.

You were the greatest, most wonderful and special mother anyone could ever have.

Go forth with your strength and love and peace in your heart. You are the very best.

I will love you forever.     

Sandy

You can shed tears that she is gone

Or you can smile because she has lived  

 You can close your eyes and pray that she will come back

Or you can open your eyes and see all that she has left  

Your heart can be empty  because you can't see her

Or you can be full of the love that you shared  

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday

Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday  

You can remember her and only that she is gone

Or you can cherish her memory and let it live on  

You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back

Or you can do what she would want; smile, open your eyes, love and go on.

(David Harkins 1981)

Don’t think of her as gone away …    

her journey’s just begun

life holds so many facets

this Earth is only one.

Just think of her as resting

 from the sorrows

 and the tears

in a place of warmth

 and comfort

where there are no days and years.

Think how she

 must be wishing

 that we could know today

how nothing

but our sadness

can really pass away.

And think of her as living

in the hearts

of those she touched ….

for nothing loved

is ever lost ….

and she was loved so much.

DO NOT WEEP

 Do not stand at my grave and weep

I am not there, I do not sleep.

I am a thousand winds that blow,

I am the diamond glints on snow.

I am the sunlight on ripened grain,

I am the gentle autumn rain.

When you awaken in the morning’s hush,

I am the swift uplifting rush of

Quiet birds in circled flight.

I am the soft stars that shine at night.

Do not stand at my grave and cry.

I am not there, I did not die.

About my BROTHER, Dennis Stevenson,  a person dedicated to helping others.

Dennis Stevenson was a parliamentary Member of the Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly. He served two 3 year terms from 1989 to 1995, thereafter deciding to leave to be able to do more lecturing, writing and training community groups in Australia and elsewhere, in how to take effective action.

Dennis was a Dependent Member, a term he coined to show that all elected representatives have simple and binding obligations. Dennis was dependent on the requirements of the Commonwealth Constitution and, unless the matter was unconstitutional, he obeyed the majority expressed will of his Canberra electorate and, in parliament, voted as so instructed.

Mr Stevenson discovered the people's will by extensive public polling. He used a new polling method he developed with like-minded individuals, that was inexpensive, quick and accurate - being evaluated by the Australia Bureau of Statistics as having at least 99% accuracy.

During his two parliamentary terms, Dennis rejected the use of a new car, excessive superannuation deal and was the only Member to vote against an exorbitant 40% pay rise.  

 From 1965 he served in the NSW Police Force, resigning in 1973 to travel overseas. During that same period he served part-time in the Citizens Military Forces’ 19 Royal NSW Regiment, coming first in both the Intelligence and Sergeants' training courses. Most of his seven years service involved training Intelligence Section personnel.

His travels included the trans-Siberian train journey and some 30 other countries.

During his parliamentary service, he was a Member of the ACT government Fluoridation Inquiry (1989-91). The majority of Inquiry Members would not include evidence from world-wide submissions proving fluoridation to be harmful, undemocratic, ineffective and polluting. Thereupon, Dennis compiled a 177 page Dissenting Report, being the major part of the Inquiries Final Report of 296 written pages.

Dennis introduced a proposed law to parliament for Binding Citizen’s Initiated Referendums (BCIR). It was similar to the long established Swiss model where electors can, by way of initiating and voting at a referendum, veto existing or proposed laws, introduce new laws and recall (remove) public servants who have lost public confidence.

Dennis has campaigned against psychiatric abuse in Australia and the UK, and for a short time, was UK National Campaign Director of the Citizen's Commission on Human Rights.

His first main job was in the photographic section of an Aerial Survey Company, involved in making maps. He studied philosophy, was a Company Director, has operated health centres, and trained people in sales, marketing, public speaking and motivation. He has worked as a life coach, business consultant, counsellor and labourer.

His community training covers strategy, polling, creating and running a group, disseminating your message, handling media, running meetings and rallies, raising funds and recruiting, training and motivating people.

He self-published ‘If you don’t look after your body, where will you live?' and is working on four other books; covering democracy, success, anti fluoridation and life. His passion is helping people. For the last 15 years, he has been the Master of Ceremonies at Australia’s leading freedom conference - the Inverell Forum.   

Christmas 2009

Dennis continues to help people and to create ideas that inspire others. He wanted to remind people of the real meaning of Christmas as being a time for sharing, loving and giving. He spent months collecting ‘as new' stuff all around the place, from friends, etc. Then set out to find an empty shop he could use, free of charge, for the last week up to Xmas. The idea was to get presents out to people who couldn't afford them and to encourage people to give away things they don't use or need. 

He opened a local shop he called the 'Spirit of Christmas' to give away thousands of items he had collected. There were lovely Xmas quotes all over the windows. A sign writer offered to do a large sign for the shop front and Dennis put it up. 

It had taken a few weeks to find an owner willing to loan him an empty shop, but he persisted and found one. The whole project was a huge job; he loaded all the goods himself with many car trips, found a church willing to lend him some tables and spent some time cleaning them all. He also cleaned the shop that had been up for lease and was consequently empty.   

The shop was full of goodies and as fast as people took things, it was being replenished with lots of people bringing more in. There were lots of wonderful things including two lovely rocking horses, many new video and DVD players, TV sets, new recent model Canon printer still in box, videos and DVD's galore, good books, loads of children's books and games, expensive cameras, tons of lovely soft toys, jewellery, china, etc.  

He was interviewed by four TV channels, 7, 9 Gold Coast, 9 Brisbane  and Ch 10. Also on local community radio, other radio stations and in local papers - talking about Christmas spirit of giving. With constant radio coverage and many peak TV news slots, the message reached many thousands. We lost count of how many interviews he did but I recorded 11 different interviews done by TV stations. 

People in tears sometimes in the shop, families who couldn't afford anything for their kids, old people, the works. We heard tons of lovely stories. One 91 year crippled lady who could only go a short distance using her walker, lived just a few doors away from the shop. The previous day she been given a present by her neighbour's children and was sad she couldn't get out to get them anything to give back. She prayed that night that she would be helped to give them something. The next morning she saw a large crowd outside her home and discovered the free giveaway shop was about to open. She got some toys to give to the neighbour's children. The TV cameras were all there for the opening and she got herself interviewed on TV as well - something for her to talk about at 91.  

Another lady with 5 children had nothing to give her children. She left with enough for all of them, including a full size guitar for her son who had wanted one for 15 years but she could never afford it. Another lady with little money and no TV for her children to watch the children's movies on over Christmas, left with a TV, a video player and tons of children's videos. Some people were just crying with their good fortune. One lovely young lady had gone home after seeing the shop and found 100 things in her home that were new and unused. She wrapped them all and started phoning charities to see who wanted them. Most said they couldn’t take them as it was too late but she persevered and found one who really needed them. She took them over there. She came to tell us about it on Christmas Eve as she wanted Dennis to know his message had been heard. 

It was a blessing for many and made their Christmas a more joyful occasion that perhaps it would have been. It's been a total success. The doors closed finally at 6pm on Xmas eve with only a few items left.   

It didn’t end there. Late in the day, someone kindly donated a boxful of large, single cultured pearl necklaces. Dennis had quite a few left over, so he went to three local hospitals and asked the nurses of each ward to point out patients who were alone or needed help. The nurses were wonderful (as ever) and knew everyone on their ward who needed a helping hand, especially the older people who had no visitors. The necklaces were given. It made a difference. It is lovely to know so many who were alone at Christmas, were helped.  

As ever, Dennis is doing his usual thing, making sure that anything he used or borrowed during that time. The shop; the tables, etc. were returned in far better condition than when he took them. He spent days bringing the entire shop up to a high standard and has been actively helping the shop owner to lease the shop. It had been up for lease for 6 months with no takers.  

Dennis is always helping people – all year, not ‘just for Christmas.’ As he says, what else are we here for?  

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