tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-334533372011-09-16T17:18:07.811+10:00Frank Coughlan and Robyn Brady are parents of Maeve who was killed in a road accident, at age 10, in November 2003. Jan Cattoni is a friend and documentary film Director of After Maeve: a film about the family and Maeve's friends following her death. The film is generating much interest internationally. This blog is for Frank, Robyn and Jan to offer thoughts as the film and the Planet Creature website are viewed by audiences in different countries.Frank Coughlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03871462829598097975noreply@blogger.comBlogger341100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33453337.post-48524425720200367482011-09-08T22:49:00.003+10:002011-09-08T23:15:30.899+10:00

There have been a number of horrific news stories lately. The dear bones of Daniel Morcombe, who disappeared in 2003 just after Maeve died, have been found, confirming his murder. Yesterday a teenage pupil of my sister was found dead in her home, having been killed with an axe, possibly by her own mother who subsequently jumped off a bridge to her death. Both of these events juxtapose a vision of

Robyn Bradyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08671908910348335393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33453337.post-76656878161537863902011-05-15T22:54:00.007+10:002011-05-15T23:58:46.146+10:00

Hello. I have just had my three year post cancer review and all was good. Somehow I found this immensely helpful and spent some time planning an imaginary survivor's tattoo for my upper arm. I felt really "STRONG!!!", as my 3yo nephew Orion says after a fall when he gets up and brushes himself and makes big muscles. . .In my mind my tattoo image showed the three mountains of the three really

Robyn Bradyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08671908910348335393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33453337.post-19504465657479510102010-07-16T15:50:00.000+10:002010-07-16T15:50:18.882+10:00

Planet Creature and After Maeve

Frank Coughlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03871462829598097975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33453337.post-52174383963064655702010-07-16T14:39:00.009+10:002011-05-15T23:44:12.231+10:00

I haven't written for some time. I need to report that I am extremely well, and that my 2- year cancer check was clear. Actually i have lots of things to say and I've been storing them up, but the first thing of importance was to share this picture of me taken in Xidi, one of the Unesco listed ancient villages in Anhui province in China, taken by my friend Fiona Reilly (http://

Robyn Bradyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08671908910348335393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33453337.post-83206679793367115202009-11-16T22:34:00.009+10:002009-11-16T23:22:50.876+10:00

Hi all,Most school holidays i go second hand shopping with Tara and any of the Bumbletown kids who want to come. This autumn we went to the Easton Pearson retrospective at GOMA instead. It was just so good- such a totally inspiring juxtaposition of colours and textures and details and ideas. Both op-shopping and such exhibitions allow one to 'try on' different aspects of self in a way that

Robyn Bradyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08671908910348335393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33453337.post-75505467789524521002009-08-13T23:17:00.013+10:002009-08-14T00:02:10.189+10:00

Robyn here. Thank you to those who have seen and appreciated our film. It is nearly six years since Maeve died. We all think of her every day, but generally not in a sad way. In many ways for all three of us she gives our lives more depth and meaning. Here are some photos of us now. Frank is heading off to Arizona to the annual international festival of the psycho-therapeutic process known as

Robyn Bradyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08671908910348335393noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33453337.post-44475605645564736062009-07-31T11:31:00.011+10:002009-08-13T23:16:29.595+10:00

A lot of the inner work that I did during last year's breast cancer journey seems to have been about rootedness.I am a person full of ideas and exotic interests and my many projects have taken me all over the world. During 'my sickness' I was very much confined - in body, and in thoughtspace. I was continuously forced back from an uncertain future to the present moment which while challenging

Robyn Bradyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08671908910348335393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33453337.post-81529995351347816772008-12-26T12:18:00.009+10:002008-12-27T10:41:26.698+10:00

Robyn here.I wanted to write briefly about the strong effect colour had on me during the darkest part of the year's journey.Early on, I found a cotton duvet cover at an op-shop in a retro design with circles of brown, tan and mustard. I loved it, and fashioned a pleated skirt (above right) out of the fabric, and even spent some time planning to applique and embroider the individual circles. But

Frank Coughlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03871462829598097975noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33453337.post-25547559930970063092008-11-16T14:45:00.008+10:002008-11-16T21:29:39.345+10:00

This is our first update in some time. As you know, in 2007 we had a fantastic world trip, highlights from which can be seen at http://taralouise.wordpress.com. This was a big Outer Journey.This year we have had a big Inner Journey because I was found to have breast cancer in march and have spent the last six months or so in various treatments. This is an Inner Journey for everyone closely

Frank Coughlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03871462829598097975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33453337.post-64302602675742609532008-08-07T13:21:00.002+10:002008-08-07T13:24:13.427+10:00

If you want to leave a comment or start a discussion, go to http://groups.google.com/group/after-maeve. Brief comments are also welcome here of course.

Frank Coughlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03871462829598097975noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33453337.post-20870954728416701822008-08-07T13:11:00.000+10:002008-08-07T13:12:43.712+10:00

For anyone who has not seen After Maeve or who might like to record it, the SBS documentary about my family's response to our daughter's death in a road accident in 2003, the programme (1hour) is being rebroadcast today, Thurs 7/8/2008, at 1.30pm on SBS.Sorry for late notice. We have only just found out ourselves.

Frank Coughlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03871462829598097975noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33453337.post-38227096624202878052007-12-23T22:41:00.000+10:002007-12-23T22:50:07.570+10:00

Robyn, Frank and Tara wish everyone Peace in 2008.As we struggle to learn to look after our planet better,may we learn to celebrate the small things, like momentswith our loved ones, and the smell of fresh laundry. xxxx

Frank Coughlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03871462829598097975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33453337.post-1175260537043007402007-03-30T23:40:00.000+10:002007-03-31T00:15:37.053+10:00

Recently Frank and I were invited to share our film, After Maeve, with the UQ Masters of Art Therapy students at the Mater Hospital under the direction of Claire Edwards. They were among the best audiences we have ever had in the sense that they seemed to be journeying right along with us, perhaps because both their own art quests and their clinical immersions had raised the same life questions

Robynnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33453337.post-1165921840965582792006-12-12T20:36:00.000+10:002006-12-14T22:30:58.990+10:00

 The second major piece of work I did with Raquel was about 8 months after Maeve died. Having returned to my halftime work in the emergency dept at 2 months, relatively successfully, I had subsequently taken a month off to paint half the house with my husband, during which time I also wrote poetry and spent some time on Stradbroke Island. It was a very reflective time and after this time,

Robynnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33453337.post-1165899198362059332006-12-12T02:30:00.000+10:002006-12-14T22:31:51.796+10:00

After Maeve died, Raquel let me participate in the small children's art class we still attended with Tara. The three of us were all a bit numb, I think, and flying by the seat of our pants, as one often is at the cutting edge of life. I know that Raquel cared enormously for Maeve and for me, and I know that she felt that being in the class would probably be helpful to me, that she wanted me to

Robynnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33453337.post-1161505194953035522006-10-22T17:39:00.000+10:002006-10-22T18:19:54.966+10:00

In 2000, the Brisbane children's theatre festival, "Out of the Box", included an exhibition called "ME" in which some 15 schools in SE Qld took part under the direction of Raquel Redmond, a children's art specialist from Bardon, Brisbane. Using a great variety of different media: from charcoal or pastel on paper, paper-clay or mixed media sculptures, to bead and bow applique on cloth dolls ,

Robynnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33453337.post-1159968251644014032006-10-04T23:15:00.000+10:002006-10-10T21:59:08.666+10:00

One of the first thoughts to sink like a stone into my consciousness in the days following Maeve's death was the recognition that I would not have any grand children. Well in fact of course, I should appreciate the parenting experiences that I have been privileged to have: plenty of people who would make great parents are unable to physically do so. Which brings me to the topic of 'fostering'

Robynnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33453337.post-1158918881840220342006-09-22T19:23:00.000+10:002006-10-04T23:55:35.776+10:00

Those who have seen After Maeve or planetcreature.com, know that I am passionate about children's art. For example, at one of Maeve's early birthday parties I showed a retrospective of Maeve's drawings during the pre-represententational years (the various stages of scribbling, as per Rhoda Kellogg*), which absolutely no-one appreciated.Children's drawing development in its early stages follows a

Robynnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33453337.post-1158628397014497292006-09-19T10:52:00.000+10:002006-09-19T11:46:45.896+10:00

After Maeve broadcasts on SBS tomorrow night. Thursday 21 September from 8.30 to 9.30 pm.Afterwards, there will be a webchat on the SBS website which anyone can join from 9.30 to 10.30pm Australian Eastern Standard Time.Go to http://www8.sbs.com.au/saforum/ and look for After Maeve at the top of the list of chats. You will need to login which should normally take only a minute or two.However,

Frank Coughlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03871462829598097975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33453337.post-1158238268077153872006-09-14T22:50:00.000+10:002006-09-21T07:33:18.686+10:00

There are several articles about the film due to appear in the australian media. Melbourne Age today, 14 September. Sydney Morning Herald on 21 Sept., the morning of the sbs broadcast. Courier Mail, 20 September. West Australian, date unknown. Also there will be an interview with us on Radio National's Life Matters next Wednesday morning, 20th September.

Frank Coughlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03871462829598097975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33453337.post-1158234809780244172006-09-14T21:39:00.000+10:002006-09-14T22:05:31.960+10:00

After Maeve aired in Ireland yesterday (12th Sept.). What a wonderful response we have had! Emails pouring in with warmest wishes from people who cried and laughed their way through the movie. Some viewers were flicking through the channels, found our documentary and were riveted to the screen. Others had carefully planned to watch, having seen the trailer. 22 percent of the Irish viewing public

Frank Coughlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03871462829598097975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33453337.post-1157518523331736182006-09-06T14:54:00.000+10:002006-09-06T14:55:23.343+10:00

  

Frank Coughlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03871462829598097975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33453337.post-1157444140133531232006-09-05T17:54:00.000+10:002006-09-06T14:21:23.230+10:00

Where is it that we go after someone dies? The people you meet often seem to think that you, the bereaved, have disappeared into some black hole. In there, all is darkness, misery and depression. After a period of months or years, you come back, all your grieving done, to take your place once again in the land of the living, that is, in everyday life.I agree that some people seem to be consumed

Frank Coughlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03871462829598097975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33453337.post-1157264741887138542006-09-03T16:18:00.000+10:002006-09-04T09:55:48.896+10:00

KQ1: How did you get Maeve's drawings to come off the page [of her notebooks and fly away?] (R. aged 8)A: If you continue to work really hard on your doodles instead of doing your other work, then you too could grow up and get a job working at Mt Coot-tha like our animators, drawing dragons [and making kid's drawings come to life]KQ2: Where can you buy the video? (M. aged 13)A: Google "After

Robynnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33453337.post-1157231259097110282006-09-03T06:39:00.000+10:002006-09-03T07:07:39.200+10:00

Professional counselling may not always be necessary in the grieving process. In some cases, it might be necessary where, for example, a current grief situation brings up issues or traumatic feelings from the past. In either case, the skills and focussed attention of a counsellor or a therapist will almost certainly help to ease the journey. A few weeks after Maeve died, I was scheduled to

Frank Coughlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03871462829598097975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33453337.post-1157115931476450672006-09-01T23:04:00.000+10:002006-09-01T23:05:31.476+10:00

 Find your local Quaker meeting or a meditation group and sit still in silence for an hour. If you prefer, spend some time by yourself in nature. I came across a quote some time ago that said: "All the trouble in the world comes from a man not being able to sit alone with himself in a room." The other side is that, if you can sit quietly with yourself or with others, tremendous good can come from

Frank Coughlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03871462829598097975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33453337.post-1156938459028150862006-08-30T21:34:00.000+10:002006-08-31T11:10:18.680+10:00

An Irish doctor, Michael Murphy, started the hospice movement in America. I found his book (Wisdom of Dying: Practices for Living by N. Michael Murphy) very instructive. He and his colleagues put much energy into getting family meetings to happen near the end of the dying person's life, perhaps with only days or weeks to go. Sometimes it worked well and some times not. His main aim was to give

Frank Coughlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03871462829598097975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33453337.post-1156834393469086842006-08-29T16:35:00.000+10:002006-08-31T11:14:47.026+10:00

People have been saying to us for a long time that they are amazed by how well we have coped with our loss. And for a long time, I have asked myself the same question. I realise that there is probably not a single source of coping for me but very many. As they come to mind, I will write a little note about them here. Thus this is number one.I have always liked any opportunity to talk about Maeve

Frank Coughlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03871462829598097975noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33453337.post-1156765007023696082006-08-28T21:31:00.000+10:002006-08-28T21:38:16.040+10:00

Frank , Jan, Kevin Coyne and Anne Coyne (Frank's sister) celebrating world premiere of After Maeve at Guth Gafa Film Festival in Donegal earlier this year (May 2006). The final lighthouse scene of the film was filmed at Fanad Head, Co. Donegal where Frank's father and mother met. He was a lightkeeper. She was the sister-in-law of the principal lightkeeper.

Frank Coughlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03871462829598097975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33453337.post-1156759364280524272006-08-28T20:01:00.000+10:002006-08-28T20:21:12.663+10:00

One of the things I have learned in the past few years is that it is really only through difficulty that some things are learned. Our culture doesn't seem to acknowledge this, and we certainly don't wish difficulties for our children, in fact we do all we can to avoid them being placed in a situation which leaves them feeling uncomfortable. But I know that many of the things I drew on in facing

Robynnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33453337.post-1156748715362590672006-08-28T17:00:00.000+10:002006-08-28T17:09:35.680+10:00

Robyn, Frank and Tara have received many personal messages from people (of all ages) in Belgium following the broadcast of After Maeve in that country. It has been great for them to receive these overwhelming messages of love and support. I think for all of us it really reinforces the decision to make the documentary.

Jannoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33453337.post-1156742272598641542006-08-28T15:17:00.000+10:002006-08-28T15:17:52.603+10:00

After Maeve will be broadcast on Irish television RTE on Tuesday 12 Sept 2006 at 10.10pm.   The film will be broadcast on Australian television SBS on Thursday, 21 September at 8.30pm.

Frank Coughlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03871462829598097975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33453337.post-1156739240556316312006-08-28T14:20:00.000+10:002006-08-28T15:52:46.216+10:00

After Maeve on DVD will be available from distributors Marcom from 1 September 2006 according to their website but date may change. You can preorder. The film producers are Big Island Pictures (Mark Chapman). The sponsors for the film include SBS Australia and RTE Ireland, Film Finance Corporation and Pacific Film and Television Corporation.

Frank Coughlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03871462829598097975noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33453337.post-1156729314682768252006-08-28T11:14:00.001+10:002006-08-28T17:51:22.330+10:00

After Maeve was launched last night at the Schonell Theatre, in Brisbane. 350 people attended. Despite the sadness of our story, the evening was a celebration of our journey and of the sensitive way in which Jan Cattoni directed the film. Already the film has been broadcast in Israel and in Belgium just this week. Following the broadcast in Belgium, we had 12,000 hits on www.planetcreature.com in

Frank Coughlanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03871462829598097975noreply@blogger.com0