Christchurch massacre: ‘His first anniversary in heaven …’

On January 10, on what would have been her brother’s birthday, Aya al-Umari went to a park in the middle of Christchurch to remember her murdered sibling.

Aya al-Umari at her brother’s grave in Christchurch, New Zealand. Picture: David Alexander

On January 10, on what would have been her brother’s birthday, Aya al-Umari went to a park in the middle of Christchurch to remember her murdered sibling.

Hussein al-Umari was one of 42 people killed as he worshipped at Christchurch’s Al Noor Mosque.

The first six months after his death passed in an emotional blur. The months that followed were harder still. “Everything started slowing down. That’s when it hits you, when you’re left alone.’’ Ms Umari said.

Next Sunday marks one year to the day since Australian terrorist Brenton Tarrant killed 51 people in New Zealand’s deadliest terrorist attack.

It was an act of violence without precedent in the country’s history but from it a note of grace has emerged: an enduring connection has formed between survivors and the families of those killed.

A year on, they are a community bonded by grief and a shared desire to help one another through unthinkable trauma. “There’s hundreds of families going through the same thing,’’ Ms Umari said. “The scale of what happened is far beyond what people think.’’

Aya and Hussein were born two years apart but their birthdays fell on consecutive days and they would celebrate together. This year was the first time she had to celebrate alone.

With her parents, she went to Christchurch’s Memorial Park where Hussein is buried.

The visit brought to mind something an official said on the day she collected Hussein’s death certificate.

“The delegate said, ‘Don’t think of it as picking up a death certificate — you’re picking up his birth certificate in heaven.’ That’s the way I saw his birthday — his first anniversary in heaven.’’