Thousands farewell boy slain at school

More than 1,100 boys stood solemnly, hats off and heads bowed, to farewell
schoolmate Elliott Fletcher at his funeral in Brisbane on Friday.

The school bell at St Patrick's College, Shorncliffe, had rung at the usual time but
there were no classes on this the saddest of days.
It was time only to pay tribute to "a lovely boy", the 12-year-old student fatally
stabbed, allegedly by a 13-year-old fellow student, in the college grounds on Monday
morning.
His parents, Russell and Brigitte, described the service as a "celebration of
Elliott's life".
The students guard of honour stretched for 800 metres from the school, as police
motorcyclists led the funeral procession followed by clergy, including Brisbane
Archbishop John Bathersby, and the hearse.
The 1,120 boys stood solemnly as the hearse carrying Elliott's body moved slowly
away from the college, towards a private family burial at an undisclosed location.
It was a sombre service and many in the congregation, which included Premier Anna
Bligh, silently wept as a video presentation of Elliott's life was shown in the
auditorium, to the tune of John Lennon's Beautiful Boy and Bernard Fanning's Watch
Over Me.
Elliott's mother Brigitte bravely read from the poem Child of Mine, written by Edgar
Guest, which includes the words: "He'll bring his charms to gladden you, and should
his stay be brief, you'll have his lovely memories, as solace for your grief".
College principal Dr Michael Carroll said in a statement it was "an emotional time
for everyone".
"However, it provided a very special and solemn opportunity for the college
community to farewell a classmate and friend," Dr Carroll told reporters.
"In a week of enormous emotional strain, for all of our families, I have personally
taken strength from the manner in which the students, staff and parents have come
together and demonstrated the very essence of our community.
"It is important for the boys that we now focus our attention on recovering from
this tragedy and re-establishing the school routine."
Fletcher family friend Dave Lee paid an emotional tribute to the 12-year-old before
the funeral.
"Elliott was a lovely boy. I've known him since he was five or six. Terrific kid, no
trouble," Mr Lee told reporters.
"I don't know what you can say."
A former St Patrick's student Michael Hoffman said he'd attended because it was "a
time for the whole community to come together".
Kerry, the tearful mother of a St Patrick's student, described the service as
"beautiful".
"As a parent it's heartbreaking," she said of Monday's stabbing.
Another St Patrick's old boy, Nathan Lewis, said it was "surreal" to see the number
of former pupils who attended the service.
"Just to see so many of the school community here, I think it'll make St Pat's
stronger," he said.
Several local schools also sent groups of students to mourn with the St Patrick's
community.
Queensland Catholic Education director Mike Byrne said St Patrick's College and the
Fletcher family had been in the prayers of students and staff in the state's 288
Catholic schools.
School security would be a priority for discussion at a meeting of the Queensland
Catholic Education Commission on Tuesday, he said.