Dieter Brummer’s heartbroken mother has revealed what will likely be the final three words of a memoir she is writing for her son in the wake of his death.
The 90s Home and Away heartthrob, 45, took his own life three weeks ago at his parents’ Glenhaven home, in Sydney’s north-west.
His mother Dawn Brummer told Daily Mail Australia she sat down on Wednesday and penned the words: ‘Why Dieter, why?’
The 84-year-old widow said that would likely be the final passage of the book, which she’s writing as a form of ‘therapy’ to cope with her son’s sudden and unexpected death on July 24.
Dieter Brummer’s heartbroken mother has revealed what will likely be the final three words of a biography she is writing for her son in the wake of his death
Final photo: A bearded Dieter Brummer posted a ‘thank you’ Facebook post to his new employer on July 15 – but just days later he was out of work when the NSW government announced a pause on all construction in greater Sydney
Close friends said Brummer had recently lost the security of regular work as a window cleaner when new Covid restrictions were extended to a construction ban, and it ‘took the wind out of his sail’.
Mrs Brummer farewelled her only son in a lonely 10-person funeral on Monday, August 3.
‘We had to pick and choose and there were so many who wanted to attend,’ she said.
‘His friends were not celebrities.’
The very same day, Lifeline recorded its busiest day ever, likely linked to the ongoing lockdowns and Covid-induced isolation.
Volunteers worked through 3,345 calls on that day alone.
The 90s Home and Away heartthrob, 45, took his own life three weeks ago at his parents’ Glenhaven home, in Sydney’s north west. Pictured with co-star Melissa George
A source told Daily Mail Australia he was particularly reflective in recent years of ‘what could have been’ if his career had followed a different trajectory
Mrs Brummer said it was ironic that her son was farewelled on such a historic day, noting how many Australians are struggling.
‘Maybe sharing my story might help one person or two people,’ she said.
‘He ended his pain, but the rest of the world who ‘knew’ him are now in pain. If one person is contemplating suicide just a little, maybe now they will think about how it will affect their mum, their brothers and sisters, partner and friends and the wider range of people who know them.’
The grieving mother was this week moved to tears when she heard of yet another tragic death in the arts industry.
Francis Mossman, who starred in Shortland Street, took his life on Saturday after a quiet struggle with his mental health.
A friend and former colleague cited an ‘epidemic of loss’ within the industry throughout the pandemic.
Dieter Brummer’s sister Karlene (left) shared this moving picture of the siblings together as children. Grieving mum Dawn Brummer (right) said she is filling her life with a book about her son Dieter and his struggle with depression as she launched a mental health fundraiser
Francis Mossman, who starred in Shortland Street, took his life on Saturday after a quiet struggle with his mental health
‘There seems to be an epidemic of losing people in isolation these days that nobody seems to be talking about,’ Paul Layton said.
Mrs Brummer said it was painful to see yet another life lost.
‘I don’t think they consider the huge hole they leave behind,’ she said.
Editors are already circling to help Mrs Brummer put her son’s life into words, and once she’s completed the project she plans on pitching it to publishing houses.
She hopes it will help others who might be in a ‘depressed frame of mind’.
‘His friends are helping me. And I’m hoping that the book will help people who are suffering from a depressed state of mind.
‘I think people with depression don’t talk about it, it’s just their little secret. We’re just assuming that’s what he suffered, and he made an awful mistake.’
‘That’s filling my life now, I’m just writing, writing, writing.’
As his ‘Plan B’ career after TV fame, Brummer ran a window washing business and worked as a rope access technician. Above, a picture by friend Chris Cooper, who remembered him for the ‘good laughs and silly times’ they had ‘hanging off buildings all around the world’
Just days before his death, things were finally starting to look up for Brummer, who no longer worked as an actor after being a household name in the 1990s.
Aware he was struggling financially, an old mate had offered him some much needed work.
But the July 15 message of thanks to his mate, complete with a picture of a bearded Brummer nestled among the city’s skyscrapers, would tragically be his last.
Just two days later, on July 17, the NSW Government paused all construction in greater Sydney for at least two weeks, in a desperate – and failed – bid to arrest a surge in cases of the Indian Delta variant.
The lockdown was a devastating blow for Brummer, who took his own life at his parent’s Glenhaven home, in the city’s north west, just one week after the restrictions were announced.
Late Home and Away star Dieter Brummer is seen more recently in an interview with the Seven Network. He was named Australia’s ‘favourite actor’ in the 90s
‘He was really excited and really grateful about the job,’ his grieving employer, who has known Brummer for two decades, told Daily Mail Australia.
‘The lockdown took the wind out of his sails.’
Daily Mail Australia understands Brummer was told he could access financial support from the state government, but was frustrated by the process.
‘It was the last straw,’ a close friend claimed.
Lifeline: 13 11 14 or lifeline.org.au
Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 or beyondblue.org.au
Beyond Blue’s coronavirus support service: 1800 512 348 or coronavirus.beyondblue.org.au
Headspace: 1800 650 890 or headspace.org.au
The lockdown was a devastating blow for Brummer, who took his own life at his parent’s Glenhaven home, in the city’s north west