A death that sent a message

JOHN SELKIRK/Dominion Post

MAN OF PEACE: A dove is released by Jessica Hemmings as her family look on, after the funeral service for Austin Hemmings.

Relevant offers

Among more than 1000 mourners who gathered to give Austin Hemmings a hero's' farewell, one woman sat quietly watching.

The woman Mr Hemmings gave his life for was seated in the crowd at Holy Trinity Church in Devonport yesterday, listening as the tributes flowed for her rescuer.

She had already had a private meeting with his family.

Mr Hemmings believed it was his life's purpose to have a positive impact on the world, his brother, Craig, told mourners.

The father of three got up at 6am every day to pray for his family, friends and the people of New Zealand. Then he went off to the city to his job as an insurance broker.

"He enjoyed carrying a briefcase to work, even if it only contained a cut lunch," Mr Hemmings said, evoking groans of protest from his parents, Dick and Greta Hemmings.

As the 44-year-old left his city office last Thursday afternoon, he went to help a woman who was calling for help after being attacked. Mr Hemmings was fatally stabbed. The rescued woman's name is suppressed.

"Austin, you are my hero ... You're a top, top bloke," Craig Hemmings said.

The church was reduced to standing room only and the parish hall next door, which had a video link-up, was also full for the ceremony.

Grant Hemmings said his little brother was not a foolhardy person. "He went to the aid of a person asking for help because it was the right thing to do. He would have assessed the risk instantly and would have known it was dangerous, yet he did not hesitate."

Grant Hemmings thanked Detective Senior Sergeant Gerry Whitley for his words at the murder scene the day he "came to get Austin off the street".

"The first thing he did was look my dad in the eye and told him his son was a hero," he said.

Mr Hemmings' wife, Jenny, said she had never dreamed her husband's goal of reaching the nation with a message of God's love would be fulfilled.

The one thing people could do for her at this time was write to her and tell her how her husband's death had changed their life.

After the service Mrs Hemmings and her three children - Meghann, Jessica and Gareth - helped release 44 white doves and stood holding hands as the hearse pulled away.

Mr Hemmings was to be cremated and his ashes scattered in Israel - a place he had always wanted to visit.

- © Fairfax NZ News