Bevan Ramsden

Thank you for sharing this sacred time to say goodbye to Bevan. Thank you so much.

I met Bevan only once face to face. It was at the first IPAN event I had been to – ‘Sleepwalking Into War’ in Perth. I knew nothing about IPAN, I had gone only as a volunteer with a Quaker friend as she said they needed help. Early on the first day the magnitude of AUKUS hit me like a brick in the face, I was overwhelmed and an emotional wreck. And I knew no one at the conference other than my friend who was volunteering.

I was crying at the magnitude of what I had heard, and had decided I couldn’t stay – it was after the first session of the day of a 2-day conference. I walked past Bevan (I didn’t know who he was) and he stopped me – asked me if I was ok. I found myself kneeling at his chair, and it seemed right. I knew immediately I had met a man to respect and trust. I spent no more than 10 minutes with him as he calmed me and convinced me to stay. And in that 10 minutes he gave me the courage to enter into that conference and ultimately to speak into it.

Bevan and I talked about my theory of love as a defence strategy. He encouraged me in that – and was the first person that took it seriously. He also encouraged me to speak it out at the conference.
Peace as a Defence strategy is still my passion. I am currently writing my second Submission to the AUKUS Public Inquiry by Peter Garrett, for Quakers in Western Australia – and the theme is peace as a defence strategy. I decided today as I drove home to watch this live broadcast – I will try to write some of this also as an article for Pearls and Irritations, as my tribute to Bevan.

I kept in touch with Bevan via email and wrote some articles on AUKUS. The were used for IPAN. I also kept him and Annette up to date on what was happening at Stirling Base in Western Australia and community action. I sent him research when I could. I last sent a message to him just over month ago. When we emailed, not many words were exchanged. But we both honoured those emails, and he never let one go by without thanking me in a way that made me know, my contribution mattered.

I have been writing ever since that meeting. He has inspired me to bring everything I can to writing for peace. And I do.
Bevan was a rare man – he stood alone in personal integrity. He said what he meant, but he didn’t say it meanly.
Bevan was a true leader in Australia, where men with ethics and values and the courage to fight for them, are so few. Please know he will always be a part of the peace work of this country. He will always be loved by those who knew him in this work.

There is one thing that is true as a writer, that you live on in your words when they hold truth and hope, courage and inspiration. When they come from a place of love. Because of that, please always know Bevan will live on. Please trust in that. His work will spread like the ripples of a pebble into a pond across eternity.

My love and prayers are with you all as his beloved family and friends. It will remain and reignite, every time I write something around Peace. Every time I read his work for referencing and understanding – because Bevan wrote in way that was accessible to everyone in layman’s terms. And he only wrote what he knew to be true. And with the heart of a lion.

Be gentle with yourselves. I pray with all my heart you will know Bevan will always be as close as a thought. That you will gently find your way through the pain and the transition of this huge loss.
Let those of us who also loved him, hold you all in our hearts – you his beloved family in this time, that you might have the space to grieve fully.

Thank you again for sharing this time with those of us you have not met.
Vale dear Bevan. 🌿🕊️💌

Dear Sheryl, Aunty, loving Violet and Shaz,
Please accept my deepest condolences and sympathy for your loss. May God give you all the strength to bear this loss and may Uncle Bevan Ramadan ‘s soul rest in peace.

Please take care.

Warm wishes,
Kanchan