Fundraiser show at Cape Live
jon November 27th, 2006
Firstly, welcome to this community blog. It’s been created with the idea of strengthening the links between people who knew and were close to Dan McCluskey. It’s a place to share thoughts and memories, and to pool ideas inspired by Dan’s compassionate nature. I hope you find it a useful way to stay connected to our dear friend, and all the good things that came from his life.
This Thursday just past, we held a fundraiser show at Fitzroy’s Cape Lounge to kickstart the Daniel McCluskey Trust. It was a great success, with over one hundred people coming along to show their support, share a drink, and listen to some music. Scissors for Sparrow - the band Dan played in - started the evening with a set of bouncy instrumental pop tunes, prefaced by a short experimental guitar/computer improvisation.
Scissors for Sparrow: Jon Tjhia, Jamie Mildren, Alex Nosek, Nadia Combe and Mark Gomes
They were followed by the soulful acoustic/folk stylings of Mayaan.
Mayaan: Hayley Kuperholz and Mayani Rawicki
In addition to music, the evening was characterised by a warm, genial atmosphere - an opportunity to catch up with old friends, even to make new ones.
Warmest thanks go to everyone who came - and to those who helped make the evening possible. Firstly, the organisers; Francisca Hoffmann, Agata Weirzbowski, Kate Burgess, Evelyn Tadros and Hannah Richardson. Also, to all the Law Students for a Just Community crew.
We’ll be organising further events next year - please check back for updates! Finally, if you have your own photos you’d like to add, take a look at the About page to learn how. We’re currently using an open publishing model - so anybody can register and post news, photos, and thoughts. You’re invited.
I find it difficult to believe that it’s been one year since you left us, Dan. I still think about our years at the Melbourne Conservatorium, travels to India, and so many good memories we’ve shared with friends and family. I miss our conversations on music and still play and listen to music by Chopin, Scriabin and Bach which we both really enjoyed. I miss you my dear friend and hope that your soul is at peace. Jon Gonsalves
You are deeply remembered and missed a lot! I found very hard to write or express my feelings on the website as I don’t know the persons this expression will reach to and also because they may not know that I’m existing. But after all, this is to your soul that I’m writing right now.
I did not get the chance to tell you that I was reassigned to India, I know how joyful you would have been to know that. I’m left with the memories of your first journey through India, our discussions, walks, laughters, all the places we visited together, places which will never be the same again, I can still see you walking slowly in the empty spaces of Sultampur Lake and taking photographs of the beautiful birds there… You were a noble soul. Brigitte
Dan was a very intelligent young man who wooed his family and friends with
his charm, whit and personality. His eclectic nature allowed him to
understand more people than others thought possible. He was in touch with
his heart and knew that if he cultivated this organ many other things will
just flow naturally. From the simple lifestyle of Indian to the grandeur of
the educated and wealthy he was very well adjusted and competent to adapt.
His love for people will not go unnoticed either; Dan’s philanthropy reached
not only his family but the world. He was a giant in society and amongst his
sphere of influence he was regarded with utmost respect and adoration. He
will be remembered in the hearts and lives of his loved ones and ultimately
he still lives, ever touching our daily lives by the memories he left in our
own individual minds. To my cousin and friend.
Dear friend,
No need to wait the next 20th of January to express that you are remembered and missed a lot!
Actually since I have been reassigned to India, I could not visit any of the places I visited with you when you came. Two days ago, a colleague of mine told me that she went to Sultanpur Lake and I immediately thought of you, it has been an acute pain to remember Sultanpur Lake believe me!
It was certainly painful but at the same time I realized that you have not gone, you still live in the memories of our minds and hearts, traveling my spiritual journey and this makes me smile. I miss you and pray for your soul to be at peace. Brigitte
It is hard to believe that almost two years have passed since you left Dan but your spirit is very much alive. Just now come to my mind memories of you smiling and laughing so much when we visited Red Fort or when you were called “Mr Dan” at a certain place in India. These are the images which I will always keep because there are very good and unforgettable memories.
May your soul be always at peace.
Brigitte
ive been thinking of dan a lot lately.
dan standing on a hill; dan reading something weighty; dan smiling inwardly; dan drawing some singularly profound conclusion about something in his head.
i’ll always remember dan as a sage, in his jesus sandals, with a woven red bag and only about $2 of loose cash on him– ‘living like a monk’ he would say.
ive never stopped speaking to dan or asking him questions- i’m not sure if its him ive been adressing or some dan-shaped part of my own personality. either way i realise that there isnt a sense in me of dan having gone anywhere. he’s still a silent interlocutor in everything i do and i carry him around. he hasn’t gone anywhere.
two years now, dan.
I know what you’re saying, Sanmati - I think of him the same way, asking questions and telling him things I wouldn’t tell other people. I feel pretty sad when I think about how much has happened and changed in the past two years; how he’s never seen the house I live in now, never met such and such, and so on. I suppose there’s no point dwelling on it, but if I saw him again, I wouldn’t know the first place to start on bringing him up to date. And still, for some reason, I feel like I’m waiting to do that.
Anyway, I suppose I just wanted to add my thoughts here because I don’t talk about them much elsewhere any more, but that doesn’t mean I don’t think about or miss (or talk to) Dan any less.
I just want to say thank you to Dan’s friends who have posted messages to or about him here. Sanmati that was a beautiful portrait of him - I can see him now exactly as you described. He was wearing his ‘jesus sandals’ and carrying that woven red bag the last time I saw him.
Brigitte, it seems so unreal that it has been two years on this earth without him for me also.
It’s so nice to hear all your thoughts about Daniel and to see him through your eyes, which I feel is closer to how I knew him than how my parents did. Thank you.
Thank you Georgia for your comment. I personally remember him very often and feel that he has gone somewhere else but has not left the heart of all those who loved him. He is very much alive in my thoughts and memories.
You are very right, we often do not know those we are living with and, reciprocally, they may not know us.
I will be always there for you if you feel writing to me personally : bbindia2007@hotmail.com
Brigitte
Almost three years that you have gone Dan… Wherever you are, you know that you have not been forgotten! Few days ago I found some pics and the card you wrote when you left India.
You are always in my thoughts and memories and this is how I keep you alive. I know that you are at peace and that we will surely meet again above.
Spiritual love and pure thougts are sent to you through Angels, I know they will reach you!
Brigitte