Memorial website in the memory of your loved one

   

 

This memorial website was created in the memory of our loved one, Michael James Charles Beetham who was born in Australia on April 26, 1989 and passed away on February 04, 2008 at the age of 18. We will remember him forever. It is still a work in progress, come again soon. Updating continually.

4th Febuary 2012 - at approx 7pm it will be 4 yrs since you left us on this earth. A little of us left that day also and we continue to come to terms with life without you. We know you are with us, it's just not the same. What i would do to have another of your hugs! Not a day goes by without you being in our thoughts. Love you Champ. XOXOXOXO

25th December 2011 - Merry Christmas in Heaven my dear son. Hard to believe it's our 4th Christmas without you  here with us. Always in my heart my dear one xxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxxoxo

Friday 4 February 2011 will be a very hard day. It marks three years since our much loved son Michael passed on from this world.

Rest In Peace my dear one.


Words from Mike's Mum:

I want to Thank You for allowing me to be your Mum,

I want to Thank You for allowing me into your life!

I want to Thank You for helping me understand YOU!

My Love for you my son WILL NEVER DIE!!!

Michael, or Beetle to his many friends passed away in an horrific car accident on Monday 4th February 2008 at 7.10pm. This is a date and time that will be forever etched into our memory. I don't know how we've managed to continue living without Michael in our lives, he left us much richer for having known his kind, happy, carefree soul. We will never know why he had to leave us so soon, not until the day we are reunited one day in Heaven.

He may not have been perfect, but he was perfect for us! 

We believe the measure of one's life is more than the way in which they died.

The story surrounding Michael's Passing -This was one day in our beautiful son's life, sadly it was also to be his last day here on earth. This is the truth as we know it.


A few months before this terrible day we found out Michael had a drug problem and after a lengthy family discussion Michael finally realised how bad his drug problem was and said he wanted help to fight this insidious addiction. I do not want to go into the why's of drug addiction here, suffice to say if you need to know more about drug addiction you are welcome to look into "his legacy" part of this site or feel free to look it up elsewhere.
It took a quite some time and many, many phone calls for Michael to be finally accepted as a voluntary resident into a residential treatment facility at Burleigh by the name of Mirikai Therapeutic Centre. Michael went into treatment late November 2007. He found life at the centre difficult and although we went to see him every time we were allowed, it wasn't the same as having him home with us again.  He missed being with his family at home and we missed him terribly. We spent a day down there 3 weeks after he arrived (the rules state that residents aren't allowed visitors for the first 3wks) and watched a play Michael was a part of. It was a wonderful day and Michael looked so happy and content, we had no idea he was so unhappy.

Michael came home to spend Christmas day with us. Sadly we had to have him back at the centre before 3.30pm. It was tough on us as we'd never been apart on Christmas day and it was always a big family celebration. It was sad to have to take him back, but we thought we were taking him to the best place possible to help in his recovery.

In early January I received a phone call from Mike and his counsellor asking for him to come home for two weeks as he wasn't coping so well with the centre. I agreed and picked him up. But the time did not go as smoothly as it should have. Michael was struggling with his addiction and stole some of my medication for my back problem.

I broke down after I found he'd taken my medication as I thought if he continued with this behaviour he would never be able to become free of drugs. How was I to know my words to Mirikai would prove true. I rang them and begged them to take Mike back sooner than arranged and told them if they didn't Michael wouldn't live till his 19th Birthday. I would give anything to take back those words! Tragically even though they did take him back, he did die before his 19th Birthday!

On the day before the accident Michael's Dad (Trevor) took his friends Candi & Mark & his best-friend and cousin,Matt down to see him. Mike was allowed to be taken out for the day, so they went to Cavill ave at Surfers Paradise and played in Time Zone. I couldn't go as I'd only had back fusion surgery on the 22nd January and couldn't walk properly. I so wished I could've gone.

When he returned home Trevor was so happy for Mike and said he looked and sounded better than he'd ever been. How wrong he was!

Michael called us around 4.30pm on the 4th February wanting to come home again. I spoke to him briefly and told him he couldn't come home yet as I was not up to looking after him.  I remember telling him I loved him too much to risk him coming home and taking drugs again. His Dad (Trevor) spoke to Mike & his counsellor for a good 45 minutes and when he ended the conversation it was agreed Michael was going to stay put at Mirikai until the following Tuesday, then if he still wanted to come home Trevor would go down, pick him up and we would work out from there the best thing to do for Mike.

Sadly Michael could not/would not/did not wait - The rest of this story is pieced together from witness accounts and information from other sources: As far as we know this is what we believed happened - A "Court Ordered Resident" by the name of Luke Riley spoke to Mike at length. Luke had only been in the facility for 2 days and we believe was looking for someone to walk out with him. I have also found out since Luke had already tried to talk a few of the other residents into going with him, but our Mike was the one who went.

What we know as fact:
Michael was pining for his family and friends. For whatever reason Mike went with Luke to the local Stocklands Shopping Centre and stole a car.


We do not know exactly what time this was and only know it was between 6pm - 7.10pm. From eyewitness reports the stolen car was speeding excessively and weaving in and out of traffic. They were headed northbound on the M1.

As the owner of the car was reporting it stolen the Police informed him it was involved in a major accident. It seems Luke lost control of the car went into the median ditch where the car hit a drain (ripping much of the underbody of the car).

After hitting the drain the car launched into the air narrowly missing a ute and another car and the passenger side hit the front right hand side of a very large truck. Michael was sitting in the front passenger's side of the car.

Michael's poor body suffered more damage than anyone could imagine If eyewitness reports are true he may not have been alive when the car impacted the truck. One person who saw the accident believes Michael suffered a broken neck when the car hit the concrete drain in the median strip. Of Mike's many, many injuries one of them was indeed a broken neck. After speaking with our family Doctor (who has read the Autopsy Report) I believe Michael did NOT SUFFER. I've been told if his neck was broken from the drain, he would never have felt the impact on the truck. I pray everyday this is the case as I do not want to believe my son suffered for one minute. The coroner could not identify which of the many injuries Michael died from and it states on his Death Certificate - (a) Multiple Injuries Car Accident (b) passenger in a car accident. Michael was pronounced dead at the scene and like Luke had to be cut out of the wreckage. Luke(the driver) survived the accident however he died either on the way to Hospital or soon after arrival. I pray for both our boy Michael and Luke and his family.


We believe Michael did not know Luke before this tragic event however we have heard they may have had some friends in common. I do feel Mike was just trying to get home and the toxicology tests show he had no illegal drugs in his body at the time of his death.


May you now rest in peace my son, we will love you forever more.

Christmas 2010: I can't believe another Christmas has come and gone without you here with us my Darling Son! You are always in my Heart, although it's now changed forever with you gone

 

Memorial sidecar for our son who was meant to be the passenger, but sadly died before this bike was ready! Thank You to Buddy for having Michael's sticker & our last name on his Sidecar. WE LOVE IT AND WE WILL NEVER FORGET!!

 

 

 

IT'S NOW BEEN 2 years since you left us, my Darling son Michael, but I think of you Everyday!! NOT ONE DAY GOES BY WITHOUT THOUGHTS OF YOU!! You will always be loved Unconditionally, Always Remembered, Never Forgotten!! I miss you so much it HURTS!!   04/02/2010

Our darling son, you left us far too soon!


Nanna Rolfe, Nana Bush, Mum & Dad at Mike's Christening.

Monday 26th April 2010 - Would have been Michael's 21st Birthday. We celebrated at home with some of his family & friends.
It was a very very tough day for us all, however we tried to remember all the good times with Mike and of that thankfully we had many to choose from.


 Sunday 26th April 2009 would have been Michael's 20th Birthday!

It's still so very hard to be here without him, knowing I cannot hug him or have him give me a hug or say the words I long to hear "I Love You Mum!" 

I know Mike will be celebrating his special day in Heaven, but as all parents who've lost a child will know, IT'S JUST NOT THE SAME!!!! Most of us know they are okay and happy and safe, however it's not the same as having them here with us and our Families!!

Below is the last Birthday we ever celebrated for Michael: His 18th Birthday.

Happy Birthday my very special son, you were and still are unconditionally loved, sadly missed and forever remembered!


Love you Forever My Main Man!

Tomorrow: 4th February 2009 is the first anniversary of Mike's passing!!

We will be putting up a new, more permanent cross for Mike. It will have a beautiful plaque pictured here added and Aunty Bev has added her own personal touch by writing Mike's name in a lovely calligraphy type script. Mike would be very proud of all his family and friends who are coming over to be with us on this very sad, tragic day. However, we will also be sharing stories about our little rascal Mike


Michael MEMORIAL TATTOO'S: Thank You to the following friends and family who went through the pain, financially & physically to honour our son with Memorial Tattoo's


I've just had my (Mike's Mum) Memorial Tattoo done not long ago. It says between the dragon: "Michael, My Heart, My Son, 18yrs". I may eventually change it and put in his date of Birth and the day we lost him, but am about to undergo Major back surgery for the 2nd time (the last time I was only out of surgery 10days when Michael died, so I didn't do what I was meant to do and didn't care. This time will be different!)

Mike's Ex-Girlfriend SARAH (although always his girl in his heart, they wanted to be together after he was clean). Has another tattoo & told me the biggest Cherry Blossom was for Michael! I know she still misses & Loves him, as we do! FOREVER LOVED MICHAEL !!


James (Cousin) Michael's Nickname: Beetle

 

 

Jessica (Cousin) Chinese writing says "Michael"

 

 Friend: Scott Norris with another friends Memorial Tattoo


Danni: Very Special Friend

Sara: Mike's Ex-Girlfriend Forever Loved!

MIKE'S OLD CROSS                MIKE'S NEW CROSS

    

                                               NEW CROSS PUT UP

                                              1ST ANNIVERSARY

                                              4TH FEBRUARY 2009!

 

Good Friend Danni: Tattoo Tribute to Beetle/Michael & another friend who also passed away too soon (Brendan) Mike's tattoo is the top one with the Beetle on it.

Newly added writing by Mum in Tributes in condolences, please feel free to have a look.

Our Dearly Loved Son: You are the Sunshine in our Lives.
 
Kind Thank You from the bottom of our hearts to Julie & Roy McGregor for this lovely picture.



Thank You to the Family of Brent Bowden for making us this beautiful photo of our son Michael. I am very grateful you know how to touch my heart, even when your's has been broken also.

I've updated some things about drug addiction in the legacy part of this site. Michael was our son, he may not have been perfect, but he was perfect for us!

We believe the measure of one's life is more than the way in which they died.

 


We laid our Dearly loved son's ashes to rest at the Chinese Buddhist Temple on Sunday 31st August. Even though we are not Buddhist and neither was Michael, he found the Temple gave him peace and tranquility. He really liked the fact that the Buddhist's do no JUDGE anyone. He was very much like that himself!

  Inside Temple



Michael's Dad, Trevor takes time to reflect on our beautiful son's life







 

 

 

 

 

 

Click here to see Michael Beetham's
Family Tree
Tributes and Condolences
Happy birthday Mikey!   / Meaghan (Cousin)
Thinking of you.
Poem  / Roxanne (Mum)
"I’ll lend you for a little while a child of Mine" He said"For you to love the while he lives and mourn for when he’s dead.It may be six or seven years or twenty-two or threeBut will you till I call him back take care of hi...  Continue >>
A letter to Michael from Mum   / Roxanne Beetham (Mum)
My darling son Michael: It has now been 31months since you left and at times it still feels like yesterday. It is so hard to fathom that we've had children born into the family who will neve...  Continue >>
Christmas 2009!!   / Mum (Mum)
Another Christmas has come and gone without you here my only son Michael. We went up to Laidley to Aunty Chook's and Aunty Julie's place mainly because we don't have Nanna's place to go to anymore!

Nanna Rolfe is now in Heaven with you an...  Continue >>
Merry Christmas from our family to yours♥   / Terri♥Mom 2. Angel Brent Bowden
Miss You Forever, Can't help it!  / Mum (Mum)    Read >>
Miss you!  / Aunty Sue (Aunty)    Read >>
Hearing your pain  / Julie McGregor Joel's Mum     Read >>
1yr Anniversary of Mike's passing 4th Feb 2009  / Mum (Mum)    Read >>
2009 New Year without our son Mike + THANK YOU  / Mum (Mum)    Read >>
MERRY CHRISTMAS IN HEAVEN MICHAEL  / TERRI♥MOM TO ANGEL BRENT BOWDEN     Read >>
Caring thoughts for Michael's parents  / Roy &. Julie McGregor     Read >>
The light of your love ....  / Roy &. Julie McGregor     Read >>
My thoughts are with you andyour family  / Alana (friend of lisa's Aquantence of michels. )    Read >>
Peace & Love  / Cheryl Radford -Jeremy's Mum (Connected by Angels )    Read >>
More tributes and condolences...
Click here to pay tribute or offer your condolences
His legacy
Facts about drug Addiction  

Addiction is a brain disease. The addicted person has no more control over their disease than someone suffering from diabetes or cancer does. Their struggle is just as painful and difficult for them.


Most addicted people start down their destructive path when they are children. Children don’t consider the consequences of their actions and they think they’re invincible. Ultimately, they discover that it is the drugs that are invincible.*

Why would anyone risk death for the high of these powerful drugs? For some, it is an unwitting mistake. Incredibly, others intentionally make this choice as part of a desperate search for an increasingly better high. The reason for this behaviour is addiction, or one of its fundamental features: the ability to alter peoples' brains such that they can no longer exercise proper judgment or experience normal pleasures. Along with displacing natural "reinforcers" such as food, family, and friends, drugs of abuse also eventually lose their ability to reward, placing the addict on a compulsive quest for more drug and for greater drug potency as their reward circuitry becomes increasingly blunted and desensitized. **

We believe the measure of one's life is more than the way in which they died.


"How can the gentle boy not know
You love him beyond death
You’d help him any way you could,
Unto your dying breath?"


Drug abuse doesn't just affect the user; it affects the lives of everyone that loves them. I hope folks that use drugs to temporarily escape problems realize that continued drug use will also take away the good things in their lives, such as; their plans for the future, their joy, hopes and dreams.

To learn more about drug abuse you may want to visit http://www.drugfree.org/intervention/ or http://www.drugfree.org/Portal.

"Some people sweet, attractive, strong and healthy happen to die young. They are masters in disguise teaching us about impermanence". -Dalai Lama


*http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sheryl_Letzgus_McGinnis http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Other-Side-of-Mothers-Day&id=532384

**http://www.nida.nih.gov/about/welcome/messagefentanyl606.html


Thank You to Julie McGregor for allowing me to use some information from her son Joel's special memorial site.
Memorial Sidecar by Buddy!  

This sidecar was a complete surprise for us! Jeff (Buddy) is the rider and our dearly loved son Michael was going to be his passenger. Sadly this never happened as Michael died before Buddy was ready.

Thanks to Buddy for honouring our son Michael this way it means so much to us!! WE LOVE IT!!!

Michael Beetham Memorial Kart Race  
Thank you to the SKAA (Australian Speedway Kart Assoc.) for thinking of us and our son, Michael.
Note: next "Michael Beetham Memorial Speedway Kart Race" will be held on 26th March 2011.

The Australian Speedway Kart Association have decided they will give a special trophy in Michael's honour for the winner of the "Outlaw" Class at their Australian Championship Meeting every year, this year 2009 being the inaugural meeting for the "Michael Beetham" Memorial trophy.


Trevor was in attendance (commentating) for the two day/night meeting at Gatton Speedway, QLD 25th - 26th April 2009. It was very special as the 26th April is also Michael's Birthday! It would have been Mike's 20th Birthday.

This was a lovely way to honour our special boy and we thank everyone who helped bring this event together. Although Michael raced Speedway Karts and thoroughly loved his time on the track, he wasn't always the fastest or best driver. Michael just loved racing anything with wheels!
He fell into Speedway Karts as that was what his Dad had been racing for many years. Michael always had a great time racing as well as going along, going away for his very first Australian Championship meeting was Laang 2003, then Moruya 2004, they had to go twice as the rain interfered, Michael finished fourth in Juniors. Then Nth Bris in 2005 where he was into moto x at the time and helped out in the pits. Then he raced at Laang in 2006 were he got a bit of a reputation for using other karts to slow him down, his reasoning at the time was "Dad, i`m not very experienced in this and i can go through the corner at that speed and when i`m behind, they hit the brakes early and i run into them", how can you argue with logic like that, Uncle Gary helped with that one
Even though he didn't win many trophies, he cherised those he did win including placing in the Club C/ship and several club meetings and I'm sure he would be tickled pink that there will now be a Memorial Kart race every year, just to honour him.
Gavin Wesble is the inaugeral winner of the Michael Beetham Memorial and Gav dedicated the win to his father whom passed away recently.
This is a copy of a writing sample by Mike in 2003  
Michael Beetham
Year 9 Writing Sample
Groves Christian College 2003

I was born at Logan (he was actually born at the QEII Hospital) in 1989, 26th April and I like to play Hockey. I like listening to music like Slipknot, MiDuayne, and Slayer they are Heavy Metal. I like to ride Motos, I have a YZ 80, 85 model and I got it for Christmas. Fishing is also fun. I want to go into the Army when I get out of school and then after four years, I want to be a Stuntman......the rest is too hard to understand.

Motorbikes Michael  
Michael loved motorbikes from a very early age. I remember when travelling in the car and he was a bit grizzly he would instantly become happy when we neared any motorcycle on the road. Many a time we found ourselves following numerous motorcycles just to calm him down.

This love of motorcyles eventuated into Michael receiving his first Motor Cross bike Christmas 2000. It was love at first sight! He actually cried and said it was because he was so happy!



After a few years he progressed to a bigger Motox bike and this was one he could race! Although he didn't race alot he thoroughly enjoyed his time on the race track at Wheelstanders. He and his Dad went up to Black Duck a few times to practice as well as numerous other places to hone his riding skills. He wanted to be just like his heroes the "Crusty Demons"




His third and last Motox bike was a 125cc Honda.


More of his legacy...
 
Michael's Photo Album
Michael and Joshua
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