Birthday greetings for Pike River 'sunshine'

Bernie Monk, Michael's father, at St Patrick's Church. Photo / Jules Anderson

Balloons replaced candles as the birthday of one of the Pike River Mine 29 was celebrated yesterday in the first individual memorial service for the disaster victims.

Michael Monk would have been 24 yesterday, and to mark the occasion 24 balloons were released at the St Patrick's Catholic Church in Greymouth. The ceremony was attended by upwards of 1000 people, with mourners spilling outside the church.

Not all of the families of the other 28 men killed in the explosion in the mine on November 19 attended and neither did Pike River chief executive Peter Whittall.

Monk's older brother Alan, manager of the family-owned Paroa pub at which Michael sometimes worked, said afterwards: "It was about our friends - not the 28 families, we didn't expect them. It was a service for family and friends."

He said the service was "great". "Michael was known as Sunshine ... we sang You Are My Sunshine, which is the song we used to sing to him all the time on rugby trips," Alan said. U2's One Tree Hill was also played.

Michael's girlfriend Gemma Schuddeboom read a moving poem and Alan paid tribute to his brother.

"He was just a great guy to be around - he was loyal, just my best mate really."

Nick Davy, a friend of Michael's who returned home from London on hearing the news of the disaster, said it was an emotional event.

"It was really good to see the amount of friends he has got on the coast and Christchurch. A lot of friends had come back from Australia - they sort of made their journey back. Obviously it is hard not having him here but it was nice for Bernie (Michael's dad) to put on a do for the guys that have come over.

"It's been really good the last couple of weeks - the family have done so well inviting everyone into their home. I can't imagine how tough it has been for them but they just bring you in like one big family, so it's a credit to them."

The mourners adjourned to the family pub and people overflowed on to the street.

"We are going to make a special toast for his 24th birthday today."

Michael's cousin, former TV personality Maggie Barry, said the service showed he was "a remarkable young man, mature before his time".

"He loved his rugby and that was a recurring theme. The local Blaketown team are going to dedicate next season to Michael and the boys because many of the miners played for Blaketown."

There was plenty of humour and smiles through the day, and that transferred to the rest of Greymouth when the annual Santa parade went ahead.

Spokeswoman Debbie Collings was not sure how many people lined the streets to see the floats and festivities, but said there was a good crowd.

"We had 500 balloons and we didn't even blink and they were gone," she said.