‘You’ll need tissues’: Barb Ireland prepares to share her message of hope in Murray Bridge

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This Friday, Barb Ireland will launch her book Daddy Will Carry Me at Murray Bridge’s Bridgeport Hotel.

Daddy Will Carry Me is about how Ms Ireland kept her faith in God after the sudden and devastating death of her three-year-old daughter in 2003.

Ms Ireland wrote the book to tell her family through adult eyes about the heartbreaking events of 20 years ago.

She also explains in her book how she learnt to regain hope, and believed her book would offer hope to readers.

“Our three year-old daughter Laura Grace died in a tragic accident at Pinnaroo,” she said.

“At the time, I was bereft of hope and didn’t know how we’d get though it and how we wouldn’t get so jaded that our faith wouldn’t survive – being a bereft parent is a very isolated place.”

Ms Ireland said that the community support she and her family received was a big help in working though her grief.

Her husband Paul, who has “Grace” tattooed on his wrist, spoke about what this support looked like from his community in Pinnaroo.

“After our daughter died, it was the middle of the harvest, and we had 1200 hectares of cereal crops that needed to be harvested,” he said.

“Over 100 farmers – many we’d never met before – brought over machinery, and a six-week job was done in six hours.”

Ms Ireland agreed that this community support had been crucial in allowing her to regain hope, and wanted people to know how much she valued this practical support.

“The Pinnaroo community and the Murray community reached out to us,” she said.

“The practical love was needed and also greatly valued – actions do speak louder than words.”

Apart from the practical support that helped Ms Ireland accept her daughter’s passing, she emphasised the spiritual component of her journey and her book.

“It’s definitely a book written from our faith perspective – the only reference part for me is that we’ll one day see her again,” she said.

“I believe the book will give hope, but you’ll need tissues, as it is a sad story.”

At the launch, a free event with coffee and cake provided, people can expect to hear Mr Ireland talk about the support from the rural community, and some members of his church at Lameroo will sing.

“Then there’ll be an opportunity to meet and chat, and I can sign the book,” Ms Ireland said.

The book launch will be from 7.30 to 9.30pm on Friday, March 31 in the Charles Sturt Room at the Bridgeport Hotel.

• Register: www.trybooking.com.
• More information: www.barbireland.com.

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