Vale Heath Ledger

I, like so many others, was shocked to hear the sad news about the death of Heath Ledger. That he was a fellow West Australian, so talented and died so young, makes it all the more sad. The unsubstantiated and innuendo laden rumours sweeping the world about how he died are more shocking. Heath Ledger has left behind family and friends who, while dealing with bereavement, are also having to deal with reporters and other invasions of their privacy. They have to listen to these smears on a loved son, brother, father. It shames the whole of humanity that gossip-mongers regard a tragic incident as something they can exploit. We are seeing the same thing in the current inquest into the death of the Princess of Wales. That so many feel they have the right to photograph or otherwise intrude on people's private lives truly shocks me.

My heart goes out to his family and friends.