A father’s pain

By Danny Buttler
PETER and Josh Jensen were inseparable throughout their lives.
But Peter’s pain at being so close to his son yet too far away to save him from a fatal house fire, punctuated an already tear-soaked funeral with a flash of intense emotion.
“I’m sorry Josh, I tried to save you. I tried to get to you,” he pleaded while looking at a photograph of his beloved boy.
Josh Jenson died when the family’s Berwick home erupted in flames following an explosion in the garage on Thursday 5 May. Police are still investigating the cause of the fire.
Peter had earlier told the Gazette of the pain of losing a son in those circumstances and how he tried three times to save him from the burning family home.
“You just wish to God you can turn things back, but you can’t,” the former Berwick Football Club president said.
“You have to love your kids unconditionally every day. I have three beautiful daughters and Josh… they are the best things you have in your life.”
The 27-year-old was buried on Monday following a funeral service at Tobin Brothers in Berwick.
A packed-house laughed and cried during a celebration of the 27-year-old’s love of life and typically-Australian larrikin spirit.
The blue-eyed baby known simply as “Boy” grew up into a fun-loving lad who loved and was loved by his large family, included his dog Nelson.
Nelson was on guard at the front of the funeral service, as was a phalanx of sisters and nieces looking after the memory of “Jeno” just as they cared for him during his too-brief life.
Big sister Gene delivered a eulogy that traced the short but eventful history of a young man who clearly touched those around him.
Tales of Josh arriving home with a litter of pups and defying council’s desire to take them away had mourners laughing through their tears.
It was the love he showed to his family and their devastation at losing their brother and son that were the ongoing themes of the service.
“Joshy you were spoilt and you knew it,” Gene said.
“You had your mum, dad, and three sisters holding onto every word you said.”
The standing room only gathering held onto every word delivered by Josh’s sister, father, and best mate Brett.
Gembrook MP Brad Battin stood side-by-side with men sporting heavy facial tattooing. Little girls sobbed and old ladies quietly wept. When a young man dies, everyone shares the pain.
As the service ended, a seemingly endless stream of family and friends filed out of the small memorial room into bright sunshine.
It seemed to encapsulate Josh’s life – packing a lot into a little and leaving everyone warmer for the experience.