Ballarat school mourns Karras

TOM Karras will be remembered today at a requiem service to be held at St Patrick’s College chapel at 2pm.St Patrick College principal Peter Casey said students had been asked to form a guard of honour after the service. “Many students and staff will want to attend the funeral,” Dr Casey said. “I would recommend that boys attend in full school uniform as they have been asked by the Karras family to form a guard of honour after the ceremony.”The 15-year-old died on Saturday trying to save his dog from the path of an oncoming train.The year 10 student was a talented under-17 soccer player with the Eagles, who played in the Victorian Champions League.Dr Casey said he encouraged parents to attend the service to help their sons with cope with the emotions and the farewell.“Parents may also wish to encourage their sons to seek assistance at school through their homeroom tutor, other staff, and through the Edmund Rice Student Services Centre with our counsellors,” he said. However, Dr Casey warned students from going to the accident spot. “It has been reported that some of Tom’s friends have been keen to leave flowers at the spot where he died,” Dr Casey said. “The railway line at Warrenheip where Tom was killed is extremely dangerous and should be avoided. “I ask parents to reinforce this point with their sons.”It is reported that $5000 was raised for Tom’s family at Haida Bar on Wednesday night. The venue held a private function between 6pm and 9pm for close friends and family. Between 9pm and closing, $2 from the entry fee paid by every person entering the bar was donated to the family. Meanwhile, Dr Casey said the St Patrick’s College community had received a lot of support in the wake of Tom’s death. “We have continued to receive flowers, cards, emails and telephone calls from diverse friends and well wishers,” he said. “We are blessed in the number of colleagues in education, the Ballarat community and the Church who share our concern for the wellbeing of the St Patrick’s College community.”