Friends remember much-loved Heath
Source: PerthNow
Shannon Harvey
February 09, 2008 06:00pm






SOME were family who grew up with Heath Andrew Ledger, the skinny kid from Perth with curly blond hair.

Others knew him as the hockey star who took to drama at Guilford Grammar.

While many mourners yesterday drove just a few minutes to Penrhos College at Como, others had flown from around the world.

During his amazing journey from WA teen to international star, Ledger touched many people from wildly disparate walks of life.

Yesterday, they came together to mourn a lost friend -- but also to celebrate a man who packed so much into his 28 years.

The program for the service featured Ledger in his adopted home, New York.

But it was only in Perth, where he spent Christmas, that he truly felt at peace.

The program read: "This room is filled with the love we all felt for a great friend who will be missed by all of us. We want to thank those of you who took care of him and participated in his beautiful life.''

Among the opening songs was These Days by Powderfinger, which featured in Ledger's breakthrough film, Two Hands. Its lead actor was Bryan Brown, one of many Australian stars to fly to Perth for the service.

They listened among 300 people to Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd, then Superstition by Stevie Wonder, The Times Are A Changin' by Bob Dylan, Seven Nation Army by the White Stripes, and
The Past and Pending by The Shins.

Then Heath's sister Kate spoke. Her brother's former fiancee Michelle Williams had clutched Kate's arm as they entered the service.

It was Kate who started Ledger on his journey at 13, prodding him to perform in a school Peter Pan play.

One mourner said she spoke beautifully about her childhood with Ledger.

A family video montage was accompanied by Here Comes the Sun, by The Beatles.

A montage of Matilda, Ledger daughter, 2, with Williams, was shown. The images appeared as Happy Ever After, a lullaby written by Ben Harper especially for Matilda, was played.

Australian director Neil Armfield, of Candy spoke before images of Ledger's movies and behind-the-scenes footage were shown.

Cate Blanchett, pregnant with her third child, ``gave a funny and moving eulogy about their times together''.

School friends Kane Monera and Paul Mullert struggled to stay composed as they told of their times with Ledger.

Then came deeply moving tributes by Ledger's parents, Sally and Kim. One of their son's favourite songs, Old Man by Neil Young, was played over a family montage before the final tune, Come Together by The Beatles.

After 90 minutes the service was over -- but memories of Ledger will live on in his daughter, films, friends and family.


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