The following Monday after returning home this email was in my inbox.

To: Taralune High School

From: Principal

Subject: Letter to the School Community

Dear Students, staff, friends and families of Taralune High,

It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that I write to inform you Jack Trainer, a Year Twelve student at the school, died on the weekend in a multiple vehicle accident, half an hour from Ballina.

Jack touched many hearts. He was popular, studious, helpful and creative. Jack always stuck up for the underdog. He had a huge heart of gold and a smile to match.

Jack’s funeral will be held next Tuesday 7th March at St Mary’s Catholic Church, Taralune, at 10am.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Heart Foundation.

This will be a very sad time for all of us who knew Jack.

Please keep his mum, Coral, and Nan, Lilly, in your thoughts.

Police confirm Jack’s death was related to the irresponsible game of ‘tarping’.

This school unquestionably disapproves of any such gamble with one’s own life. In view of Jack’s passing we hope tarping is now a thing of the past.

Vale Jack Trainer, you will be missed.

I would like to acknowledge Aunty Marg and Uncle Ron Herbert, Rose Allan, Sue Abbey, Marg Garraway, Deonie Fiford, Rachel Bin Salleh and my Magabala Books family. Your support and guidance has been immeasurable, thank you.

Sue McPherson is an award-winning storyteller who lives on the Sunshine Coast. Sue is an awesome mix of Wiradjuri, Torres Strait Islander and Irish. She grew up with her adopted family near Batlow in southern New South Wales. Inspired to write by her two teenage sons, Sue won the inaugural black&write! Indigenous Writing Fellowship from the State Library of Queensland (2011) for her manuscript, Grace Beside Me, which was published by Magabala Books (2012).

A regular writer for TV and film projects, Sue’s 12-minute short drama Nan and a Whole Lot of Trouble premiered on ABC TV (2012). Grace Beside Me was commissioned by NITV (2017) to be its inaugural scripted live-action series, which debuted on Australian screens in early 2018.