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Tributes for TV star Jessica Jacobs
Holly O'Connell
19May08
Jessica's brother Adam comforts a relative. Picture: CHRIS EASTMAN MORE PHOTOS
``Love is not a word strong enough'', Jessica Jacobs' mum tells mourners. MORE PHOTOS
Jessica's casket is carried from the church. Picture: CHRIS EASTMAN MORE PHOTOS
JEFF Buckley's Hallelujah echoed through Balaclava's Holy Trinity Anglican Church on Friday as more than 500 people gathered to farewell TV star Jessica Jacobs.
Friends and family wrote notes of goodbye on heart shaped paper and dropped them into a wooden box.
It would be their final farewell to the 17-year-old actress who was killed after she fell from a platform at the Cheltenham train station last Saturday, May 10.
Dozens of readers are leaving messages of support and shock after her death (see end of this article).
Jessica’s father, Brendan, spoke of the past week as a journey, desperate to find meaning in the loss.
``I can’t ignore the fact that we will all miss her so deeply,’’ he said.
He presented a ``show and tell’’ of her life: a 1990 bottle of wine due to be opened on her 18th birthday on November 14, a handmade card and Jessica’s bass guitar.
``I’m going to feel close to that little girl whenever I play that bass, for the rest of my life,’’ Mr Jacobs said.
Jessica's mum, Joanna, fought back tears to make a tribute to her daughter.
``I never imagined I’d have to be writing this. I always imagined I’d be the first one to go – after all, that’s the way it’s meant to be,’’ she said.
``Love is not a word strong enough.’’
Ms Jacobs pleaded with Jessica’s friends, many in their final year of school, to deal with the loss in a positive way.
``You can go out and drink yourself stupid or you can take as many drugs as you can get your hands on to take away the immeasurable pain or we can keep boxes of faded memories,’’ she said.
``But try to make the world a better place … tell the world we are doing this for our friend Jessica Jacobs.’’
While the funeral service continued a cart drawn by two black horses waited outside to take the coffin on Jessica’s final journey to her resting place at the St Kilda cemetery.
Jessica was a student at Sandringham Secondary College and in her final year of school. She starred in children’s television shows including Saddle Club and Holly’s Heroes.
Sandringham Secondary College VCE campus principal Kim Stewart said her death was a heartbreaking loss for the school.
A memorial wall would be created for Jessica, who started at the Sandringham campus earlier this year.
``She was a gorgeous girl,’’ Ms Stewart said.
``This is an awful, tragic loss.
``It is a sad situation for us all.’’
Ms Stewart said the college was providing support to students through letters to parents, counselling and grievance guidance.
Moorabbin police spokesman Sgt Dave Chapman described Jessica’s death as ``a tragic accident’’.
``She was seen on the platform and somehow slipped off and wasn’t able to get out of the way in time,’’ Sgt Chapman told the Leader.
``There is no police involvement beyond the standard reporting, there is no question of foul play, it was a purely awful accident.’’
Connex spokesman John Rees said protocol would be followed with a report to assist with the coroner.
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