Seven months to the day when a tragic boating accident took six young lives, including that of our much loved friend Savanna, her smiling face graces the pages of the daily papers again.

As expected, the legal processes have been set in motion and the courts will have to do what courts do. The adversarial style of our legal system will pitch human against human and lawyer against lawyer. Meanwhile, the media will chronicle it all in the many different styles, from sensational to dry court reporting and often de-humanising.

In all this, all of whom have been dealing with the sense of loss, sadness, media frenzy and all that this tragedy brought, may experience the re-opening of some deep wounds. It may be normal to experience resentment, anger, guilt, blame and even hatred. But let us not wallow in these longer than necessary.

At this time, as any other time when life serves us with experiences capable of exposing our emotions at their rawest, the need for clear thinking, understanding, unity, warmth and support is evident.

We know we will never forget, but forgiveness may be the only way forward. We owe it to ourselves, we owe it to each other, and most of all we owe it to Savanna.

A toast to the girl we love best:

We love you best
because you are at rest.
May your loving ways
give us strength to face the coming days.

Blue skies to all