NELSON Mandela has been remembered at a memorial service in Sydney as a humble man who changed not only South Africa but the world.
Leaders from Christian churches, including Catholic Cardinal George Pell, NSW Governor Marie Bashir and South Africa’s acting high commissioner Ray Sithole, joined about 200 members of the public to remember the anti-apartheid hero.
He died on 5 December, aged 95.
Tears fell and clenched fists were raised as the South African national anthem swelled through the cavernous Uniting Church on Pitt Street.
Four candles, placed on a wooden table underneath the South African flag flying from the high pulpit, were lit by the church leaders.
The first signified Mr Mandela’s “amazing faithfulness to justice”, the second represented his courage and the third was ignited “in memory of one who, as he suffered 27 years of imprisonment still developed an inner light of strength and peace”.
The final candle celebrated Mr Mandela’s “unending humility”.
Uniting Church ministers then led the service with two readings before the eulogies began.
“Mandela will live forever in the hearts that beat with the promise of freedom, of justice,” South African-Australian Kolin Thumbadoo said.
The acting high commissioner thanked Australians “from all walks of life” who had supported South Africa and the struggle of its citizens for decades.
“Vale Nelson Mandela, peace be with you,” Reverend Dorothy McRae-McMahon said, concluding her eulogy. – AAP
Image: Daniel Munoz (AAP)
