Kristian Burfield-Mills, bench - Rocky Point Island, NSW, Australia
S 33° 49.384 E 151° 15.163
56H E 338299 N 6256088
This green-painted wooden bench is Dedicated to Kristian Burfield-Mills.
Waymark Code: WM102A6
Location: New South Wales, Australia
Date Posted: 02/10/2019
Views: 0
The bench is out on a projection (called Rocky Point Island) of rocky outcrop, that is somewhat separated from Balmoral esplanade by a strip of sand, and an Arch Bridge.
The forest-green painted wooden bench is about 5 foot wide, and made up of multiple narrow slats of timber, with a pronounced curving shape at the top of the backrest, and front of the seat. The two outer supporting metal straps are set into concrete pads, while the central strap provides extra support. The slat that the cast bronze plaque is inset into is about twice the width of the other slats. The slats on the seat part of the bench are getting a bit worn and scratched through to the primer. The plaque has a textured black background, and is also held in place with four Philips-head, bronze screws. It reads:
In Loving Memory
KRISTIAN BURFIELD-MILLS
16.12.1973 - 3.11.2008
Gone from our sight
But never from our heart
Love always Mama and Victoria
From online researching, Kristian suffered from schizophrenia for 7 years, before committing suicide in November 2008. His mother who is passionate in her support for sufferers, was one of those interviewed for the following article. (Courtesy Sydney Morning Herald: "Speaking out for those tormented by voices".)
"THREE voices lodged in the head of Kristian Burfield-Mills, so potent, so constant and so insistent that finally he could resist none of their demands... Two belonged to acquaintances from his earlier, happier life. They told him to exercise, which he would then do furiously, and to write music, which he did just as assiduously for hours at a stretch. The third was his grandfather, who would urgently instruct him to buy lottery tickets. He did this, too, pawning his possessions and burning through money as his mind collapsed."
Address: Rocky Point Island, Mosman, NSW, Australia
Visited: 1930, Wednesday, 26 December, 2018