The mother of a 15-year-old girl who consumed a fatal alcoholic cocktail in the family home hopes her daughter’s death will save other lives.
Paris Kamper died after a ‘devastating accident’ that has left her family and friends bereft, her funeral service heard on Wednesday.
The girl’s mother Sandy told more than 400 mourner’s at the Hillsong chapel at Baulkham Hills, in Sydney’s north-west, they should all ‘own’ her daughter’s story.
‘The only thing I can grasp hold of is… maybe her story will save someone’s life,’ she said.
‘In this moment I want you all to own her story as your story.
‘Maybe some young person or old person will think and not just be led down some road where they don’t want to be and it all becomes too late.
‘Let’s be brave in the classroom, the workplace and our social circles and mostly in our homes.’
Stirring tribute: Paris’s mother, Sandy (on right), told 400 mourners should ‘own’ her daughter’s story. ‘Maybe her story will save someone’s life,’ she said
The order of service (left and right) was adorned with photographs of the late 15-year-old, who was remembered as a ‘scallywag’ with a good heart
Mourners (above) were told: ‘Maybe some young person or old person will think and not just be led down some road where they don’t want to be and it all becomes too late’
The keen horserider’s casket was decorated with flowers, photographs and bright colours
Mourners were told ‘Paris has had a great and wonderful influence on many, many people’
Pastor Serge Grygoruk was overwhelmed by the number of mourners who had come to farewell Paris.
‘Wow,’ he said. ‘All I can say is wow. Wow. Obviously Paris has had a great and wonderful influence on many, many people.’
Pastor Grygoruk told those gathered they were probably wondering why such a death would occur.
‘I can’t give you an answer,’ he said.
But the day was about celebrating a short life, well lived.
‘The sad part is that we are left behind,’ the pastor said.
‘The happy part is that she is in a much better place.’
Ms Kamper is ‘in a much better place’, Pastor Serge Grygoruk told mourners on Wednesday
Pallbearers in blue suits her elaborately-decorated casket to a waiting hearse
Paris was found unconscious at her family’s semi-rural property at Kenthurst, in Sydney’s north-west, on June 8.
It was a Friday night.
She was taken to hospital where it was found Paris had a blood alcohol level of 0.4 – eight times the legal driving limit.
Paris, one of four children, died on the Monday at Westmead Children’s Hospital.
It is believed the keen horse rider had consumed a cocktail of alcohol and energy drink concocted using an online recipe.
Paris’s father Bill told mourners the family was trying to makes sense of their loss.
‘It’s been a big blur to all of us,’ he said.
‘She was a scallywag. She was a really, really funny kid.
‘I know God took her at our place but she stayed on so that we could let her go at the hospital.’
Paris’s older sister Olivia spoke of a loving sibling who was wise and strong. She could also be stubborn.
‘Determined young girl’: Mourners turned out in overwhelming numbers to say goodbye to Paris Kamper who ‘had us all wrapped around her little finger’
If she didn’t get her own way, ‘you better watch out’.
‘She was truly the definition of a wild child,’ Olivia said.
‘She was such a determined young girl.
‘She had us all wrapped around her little finger.’
Olivia remembered her sister sneaking seven of the family’s dogs into their beds, without her father’s knowledge and against his wishes.
Paris was a talented athlete who excelled at netball, soccer and Oztag. She was so skillful she did not need to try out for teams.
But it was clear Paris’s first sporting love was horse riding and she had hoped to compete at the Olympics.
Her saddle cloth and riding cap were carried ahead of her coffin, which was adorned with pictures of Paris riding.
Olivia described what happened to her sister as ‘that devastating accident.’
Paris’s first sporting love was horse riding and she had hoped to compete at the Olympics
A funeral attendant carried Paris’s polo helmet (right) and doves (left) were released
Her death ‘has left a mark on our hearts that will last forever’, she said.
‘No matter how down you got she would always be there to make you laugh so much to the point of tears.’
Paris had been Olivia’s best mate, her ‘shadow’ and ‘partner in crime’.
‘Now she’s my guardian angel,’ Olivia said.
‘They say only the good die young. Well, my girl, you’re one of the greats.’
Paris had been a student at Pacific Hills Christian School at Dural but it has been reported she was bullied and so was home schooled.
Police said at the time Paris had been drinking alone at home.
‘A free spirited young girl, who was well respected and well liked’. Mourners, above
‘This child was not a user of alcohol,’ Superintendent Rob Critchlow said. ‘She wasn’t known to have a drinking issue.
‘The information we have is that she was quite a character, quite a free-spirited young girl, who was well respected and well liked.
‘She was deeply engaged in her animals, she had chickens and horses and other livestock on her semi-rural property.’
Superintendent Critchlow described Paris’s death as ‘pointless and tragic and sad and avoidable.’
A funeral notice described Paris as the cherished daughter of Bill and Sandy and much loved sister of Phoebe, Olivia and Ryan.
‘Paris, we have you in our hearts but God has you in his care,’ the notice stated.
‘By request of family, please honour Paris’s life by wearing bright colours. (No pink).’
The Kamper family asked that in lieu of floral tributes mourners donate to www.horserescueaustralia.org.au or www.petrescue.com.au.