About 700 people have come together at a mass at Dubbo as they mourn the loss of teen sportsman and friend Sam Fraser.
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At St Brigid’s Catholic Church on Tuesday evening they comforted each other, some lighting candles.
Sixteen-year-old Sam went missing while swimming in the Macquarie River on Monday afternoon.
His body was recovered from the water after a five-hour search operation by emergency services.
On Tuesday the rugby league and cricketing communities were some of those reeling from the loss of Sam.
In the time of sadness large numbers attended St Brigid’s regular Tuesday evening mass, parish priest Father Greg Kennedy told the Daily Liberal.
“It was wonderful we could provide a space for the 700 or more people to be together and grieve,” he said.
“Last night was an important small step in the process of coming to terms with the loss for the young people.
“Obviously it’s an extremely difficult time for them.
“It’s overwhelming that so many young people felt the need to be together, a good thing.”
Sam was honoured at the service.
“There was a chance at the end to light a candle for Sam and many did, and others comforted each other outside,” Father Kennedy said.
The parish priest said they were making counselling available through St John’s College and other avenues.
Sam enjoyed success in junior rugby league and had also established himself in the South Dubbo Hornets first grade cricket team.
Dubbo District Junior Cricket Association president Lindsay Wood offered the group’s sincerest condolences to Mick, Karen and Grace Fraser for “the loss of their beloved Sam” in a post to Facebook.
He said many people in their cricket community and beyond would be greatly affected by the loss.
He also encouraged support for Sam’s peers.
“Please be mindful of the fragility of our young members as they try and come to terms with this dreadful tragedy,” he said in the post.
“Be sure to be there for our children and each other.”
Devastated friends and community members continued to post tributes to Sam online on Wednesday.
“Making everyone smile without having to try. Just being Fraser no one else but himself,” Olivia Kirkman posted to a Daily Liberal message wall.
Leave a tribute for Sam and we will publish them on the wall below.
Faye Wheeler
I have been a journalist for more than a decade and in that time I have been keeping Daily Liberal readers up to date about issues affecting them and what's happening in their community. Throughout my career I have covered a range of rounds and most recently I have been focusing on the business round.
I have been a journalist for more than a decade and in that time I have been keeping Daily Liberal readers up to date about issues affecting them and what's happening in their community. Throughout my career I have covered a range of rounds and most recently I have been focusing on the business round.
