Tributes for Darwin woman Brittany Haste, 23, after cancer battle

The loving family of Brittany Haste have paid tribute to their ‘rare treasure’ after the 23-year-old lost her battle with an aggressive cancer. Read their moving tributes here

Brittany Haste died on January 28, just shy of her 24th birthday. She had fought cancer for five years, refusing to believe that it would beat her.

“Brittany was without a doubt, my hero,” her devastated mother Sharon Haste told hundreds of mourners who filled Darwin’s Christ Church Anglican Cathedral on February 7 to farewell her daughter.

“(She was) someone who showed wisdom beyond her years, strength and bravery that had no limits, and a love for life like no other.”

Brittany was born on February, 28, 1999, at home in Moulden, Palmerston, and later attended Kormilda College in Darwin. Her mother remembers her as an “amazing child” who was never afraid to be herself.

She also loved to travel. Her first trip was to Bali at the age of six, her second to London at age 10 with her dad Mark Haste.

In the weeks after finishing high school Brittany headed to Spain to work as an au pair. It was there the first symptoms of cancer appeared.

“She didn’t know she had cancer, she knew something was going on with her back, but she travelled to Europe for a month by herself before she came back. She was so brave,” recalled Mrs Haste.

The emotional and physical rollercoaster of Brittany’s illness saw her spend most of 2018 in a Melbourne hospital undergoing chemotherapy, away from Darwin and her friends and family, with the exception of her mum who moved down south to be by her side.

In February 2019, buoyed by the belief she was cured, Brittany and her supporters formed a conga line and danced outside the hospital ward to the classic hit “C’mon Eileen.”

It was a song Brittany had played at every milestone – when her hair first fell out and at the end of chemo.

Earlier this month, the song serenaded her coffin as it left the church.

“Britt lived a life of gratitude and positivity,” Mrs Haste said.

“She saw the good in the world, embraced all creatures-big and small.

“(She) was a unique and rare treasure that comes along but once in a lifetime.”

Brittany’s father Mark Haste, sisters Aliah and Tiana and stepdad Mark Ramjan joined Mrs Haste in delivering their own heartfelt tributes at the funeral.

With the family’s permission we publish them here.

Sharon Haste pictured with daughter Brittany who died on January 28 after a five-year battle with the rare and aggressive cancer Ewing's Sarcoma.

“She was a unique and rare treasure” — Sharon Haste, Brittany’s mum

Brittany was without a doubt my hero. Someone who showed wisdom, beyond her years, strength and bravery that had no limits and a love for life like no other.

I am honoured that this beautiful, clever, creative and amazing girl chose me as her mum and sent me on a 24-year adventure that made me the best version of myself. Something I could not have done without her.

Britt and I were as close as a mother and daughter could be. Our relationship was a rich tapestry woven with a deep love, trust, laughter, tears, shared secrets, goals, desires and so much more.

In the five years since Britt’s cancer diagnosis we became twin souls so deeply entwined that our words and thoughts were synchronised into one.

I’d like to think that our closeness has made me just a little bit like the beautiful girl I birthed nearly 24-years ago, for Brittany was a unique and rare treasure that comes along but once in a lifetime, and I am so lucky to have been in her presence for nearly half my life.

From birth Britt was determined not to miss a minute in the world that she loved with a passion. She rarely slept as a baby, preferring to be with people and embracing the world and everything in it like the wise soul she was.

"We stand in awe of you Brittany" - Dad Mark Haste's moving tribute

"I will miss her forever" - Sister Tiana Taylor's tribute to Brittany

Britt lived a life of gratitude and positivity. She saw the good in the world, embraced all creatures-big and small and loved being outdoors.

She loved all of humanity and cared deeply for those in her circle. She always made sure that whoever she was with felt seen, heard and valued. She was an amazing friend and role model, had the gift of seeing things from a completely different perspective, and transmitted immense joy to anyone she was with.

Brittany Haste aged four-years-old ... “From birth Britt was determined not to miss a minute in the world that she loved with a passion.”

Britt was an angel on earth, with a light so bright it filled the world and a radiant smile that could light a room and affect everyone in it. Brittany could instantly make you feel her happiness and gratitude for life.

She was also a creative and clever artist, with a brilliant imagination and a love for colourful and unique artwork, that spilled into her immense and tasteful wardrobe. She always looked happy and bright and wore her clothes with confidence. And although she cared what others thought, it was not enough to stop her being herself and living life on her own terms.

Stepdad Mark Ramjan thanks Brittany's "incredible" friends and carers

Let her life inspire you, urges Brittany's sister Aliah Haste

Britt had an enormous spirit and an even bigger heart, she was fun, the life of the party, quirky, silly and had a wicked sense of humour.

She was also courageous and brave, determined and unstoppable. She showed me that strength is not measured in muscle, but in finding the silver lining in every situation, continuing to see the good when things look bad and finding a way to overcome obstacles and barriers. I have never seen anyone fight so hard for so long just to live. Life is too precious not to be treasured and should never be taken for granted.

Darwin’s Sharon Haste, pictured with her beloved daughter Brittany, urged mourners to “Feel her joy, gratitude and love, see her smile and make the most of your gift of life.”

Britt loved this beautiful planet we share, was passionate about saving it for future generations and wanted to explore everything it had to offer. She travelled to more countries in her short life than many will in their lifetime and was always planning the next place she wanted to live and explore.

Everyone who met or was touched by Britt has a little bit of Britty light inside them. So to honour her take that light wherever you go, whatever you do and think of Britt and what she would do if she was by your side. Feel her joy, gratitude and love, see her smile and make the most of your gift of life.

Brittany centre, the youngest of the Haste girls, pictured with sisters Tiana and Aliah.

Brittany – for almost 24 years I had a daughter that I loved with all my heart, that I nurtured and cared for, and held in my arms most days of your life. It did not prepare me for:

How to live without you

How much I miss you

How everything in my life reminds me of you, and

How to find gratitude in a life that has robbed me of my greatest treasure

But I promise you that I will be all right.

I know this is not goodbye, and that I will see you again when the time is right. I just want you to know that I love you to the moon and back and I will spend every day of the rest of my life missing my baby girl.

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