Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
If you've been listening to the show in recent weeks,
she'll know that there has indeed been a renewed push
for the Northern Territory government to get things moving on
voluntary assisted dying legislation, which the Northern Territory hasn't had
for more than twenty seven years. We remain the only
jurisdiction in the country where people don't have the right
to choose the way that they die. Counsel of the
(00:22):
Aging nt IS called for the old euthanasia legislation to
be re enacted while a new framework is developed following
community consultation and a report by a Voluntary assisted Dying
Advisory Committee. Now, listener who's been advocating for voluntary assisted
dying for eight years after her mum took her own life,
(00:44):
contacted the show Keen to share her story. Sharon cramp
Oliver joins me on the line. Good morning, Sharon, Good
morning Katie.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Thanks for having me on the show.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Oh, thank you so much for your time. Now, Sharon,
I understand that you lost your mum in twenty seventeen.
Can you tell us what happened?
Speaker 2 (01:04):
Yeah, my mum actually had bad of breast cancer for
twelve years and she'd had two hip replacements and one
became dislocated in twenty seventeen. She was in so much pain,
so she basically all our lives was always about euthanasia
with our animals if they needed to be put down
in because of their pain and stuff. And my mom
(01:28):
basically decided she was going to take her life because
there was no choice in Australia at all at that time.
So my partner and I actually spoke to my month
about six weeks and I offered to go down and
actually lie next to her so she could take her
own life. But back then and now I'm sure, it
(01:48):
was basically a matter of that if you do that,
you'll probably go to jail, so I need to do
this by myself. She sat in her car with her
little dog who was fifteenth and took her own life. Yeah.
God bless cases for being there for her. Yeah. Yeah.
So it was very tragic, I guess because yet she
had no family, no friends, nobody around her because she
(02:11):
didn't want anyone to be implicated in helping her. And
of course for us, my partner, myself and my brother
and sister was very difficult knowing that she was going
to take her out in her own life, and we
couldn't help her with that.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
Sharon, I'm so sorry to hear that your mum, you know,
I went through that, and that your family, you know,
went through that, and that your mom was in that
kind of pain. I understand. She left diaries documenting her
life and her loss of independence, and her story is
something that was mentioned in parliament and attracted national and
(02:51):
international media. In terms of those diaries. Were they tough
to read after her passing over?
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Much so because I didn't realize how much pain she
was actually in before the January that we saw her
last in twenty seventeen. She was very tough lady, and
she really didn't let us know. I actually went through
the last seven years of her diaries and marked where
she'd mentioned euthanasia with little tags, and I also marked
(03:20):
where she was in pain. And actually I was very
lucky my partner and I got to meet with the
Experts Advisory Panel in the Northern Territory when they were
doing their research in their terms of reference, and I actually,
excuse me, took those diaries in so they could actually
read through them and see how much pain she had
(03:41):
been in. It was very devastating, as I say, for
all of our family and my friends and all the
people at mew M mum and the ironic thing. I
guess in a way that she was the justice of
the peace for many years, and she did lots of
other things, but the most important thing is I look
that she was a lifeline counselor voluntarily for eighteen years.
(04:04):
So I think about how many people she may have
helped over the time, and in a way there was
no one to help her.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Oh, Sharon, that makes me feel really like, that makes
me feel quite emotional thinking about what your mum's gone through.
And you know, and like I always think with voluntary
assisted dying is it's the last It should be the
last choice that we as humans make. And I know
that people have very differing views on this. I know
(04:33):
that everybody thinks differently. Whatever your views may be, you
can't deny in your mum's situation. You know she should
have that right to choose.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
That's correct. And I guess I would like to make
the point of why my partner and I advocate and
have done so for so long, was because my mum
read left me text message and she said, do you
mind if I read it.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
Yeah that's not good.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
Yeah, so she said, Chads, thanks so much for understanding.
You know, I can't do this existence anymore. Have nothing
to look forward to but pallative care in a nursing home.
Not doing that to you three or me. No youth
in Asia in New South Wales was once passing the
nt have it happen again? You of all people can
do it. Animals have it. We are animals to my legacy.
(05:22):
My spirit will always be watching over you. When you
see a happy pigeon, it will be me. So hence
that's why I contacted you, because it is my job
on her behalf, to make sure that nobody else gets
in that situation as she was in. And obviously in
(05:42):
the Northern Territory we don't have that right.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
Sharon. You know, I mean to anybody listening this morning,
who who is thinking to themselves? All right, this is
not something that's ajourn taur, It's not something you know
that we need to be rushing to do. What would
just to those people? I mean, I'd be surprised if
they think that after hearing what you've just read out
from your mum. But what would you say to those people?
Speaker 2 (06:09):
I think euthanasia is actually a choice just because it's
passed in law, not terminology correct with parliament stuff, But
it gives people a choice. You don't have to do it.
If you'd like to access it, there's a process that
the government has set up for you. But the biggest
(06:29):
thing I've always said, it's a choice. And we were
very lucky. Literally two months after my mom passed away,
Sandra Nelson was the Member for Catherine and we lived
in that area at the time, and she actually tabled
my mum's celebration of life booklets that we use for
her celebration of life party if you want to call it.
(06:51):
And then I also gave them the extracts from my
mum's diary for the last year and how much suffering
she had done. And I just look at it and
just go, you know, this has gone on since, you know,
November twenty seventeen. I've written to every Senator, all the
mt Chief Ministers over the time, the Governor General or
(07:13):
the Queen of England even when she was alive, and
lots of different government lots of people must know my
name and because my NL so larch, But I just
think it's devastating that you don't have a choice. And
I have a friend whose husband was very much well
(07:37):
to do Territory. He received an i AM in twenty
eighteen for his service to the stock injury industry because
he was part of developing the Buyernic arm. He had
a six year battle of cancer and ironically they had
a property over in Queensland, so they lived over there
(07:58):
and basically well, when he was too weak to do
anything and he was in misery, he just said, you know,
I can't take this life anymore, and sadly, I will
say sadly, but in a good way. He was happy.
And my girlfriend actually wrote in her letter the vad
(08:22):
doctor and the lovely assistant made me, made him feel
comfortable and left just to have time together. Cow was
jolly and after he enjoyed a beer and he designed
a gate for his farm, he said goodbye and told
the doctor he's ready to lie down and go to bed.
And she said it was explained that the injection would
(08:43):
put him to sleep, et cetera, et cetera. And he
was so funny that he even commented and said once more.
And she actually had the opportunity to cradle him in
her arm and basically he took two breaths and then
was asleep. Very sad for everyone, but that was her
husband's choice suffering.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
That's right. Look, I know it's a I know it's
a heavy topic for people to hear. I think that
voluntary assisted dying, it is one of those issues that
until you've watched a loved one suffer, until you've watched
a loved one pass away and in some cases go
through that suffering for a long period of time, you
(09:28):
may not be very opinionated on it. But I can
understand why why you are advocating for this following the
loss of your mum. You know, I know what it
was like watching my dad suffer through cancer and his
end of life was you know, it was a really
nice situation where his family were all around him at
(09:49):
the hospice and he had the care that he needed.
But you know, it's someone's choice when they are terminally
ill or when they are incredibly unwell. And and look,
I think it's really admirable that you are carrying on
with your mum's legacy. Sharon. We are going to have
(10:10):
to wrap up, but I'd be really keen to stay
in contact with you and continue this discussion if you'd
be keen to do that as we do get some
further updates from the Northern Territory government or certainly I
know the Member for Johnson, Justine Davis, is indeed looking
at whether she can introduce a private member's bill or
something else to try to make sure that this happens
(10:33):
as well.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
That's correct. And also Kate mcmura, we had a meeting
with her, my partner and I in January to discuss
the issue of how we could have it brought up
in parliament. I just it's a big wondering for me.
Like the Injuries Bill was overturned by let Godwin. He
did an amazing job on December first, twenty two down
in Canberra, and my mum's actual story was part of
(10:57):
that booklet put out by Gojen to the Senators and
I just go wow, that's a long time ago. He's
Bember first twenty two to now. And then we had
the Expert Advisory Panel in relation to VAD legislation in
ordn Territory. The did an amazing job going around and
finding information and I've got the actual documents and I'll
(11:19):
just go wow, that was done in twenty three. So
I'm just going this is taking a long time, and
there are people in places here suffering, like my girlfriend
and Catherine. She's terminally ill, but she has no choice
right now.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
Sharon, I'm really sorry. We are going to have to
wrap up because we've got to head across to the
National News. Thank you so much for sharing your story
with me morning. I really appreciate it, and we will
talk to you again soon.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
That would be fantastic. Have a great day.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
Thank you too, Thank you, thank you so much.
If you've been listening to the show in recent weeks,
she'll know that there has indeed been a renewed push
for the Northern Territory government to get things moving on
voluntary assisted dying legislation, which the Northern Territory hasn't had
for more than twenty seven years. We remain the only
jurisdiction in the country where people don't have the right
to choose the way that they die. Counsel of the
(00:22):
Aging nt IS called for the old euthanasia legislation to
be re enacted while a new framework is developed following
community consultation and a report by a Voluntary assisted Dying
Advisory Committee. Now, listener who's been advocating for voluntary assisted
dying for eight years after her mum took her own life,
(00:44):
contacted the show Keen to share her story. Sharon cramp
Oliver joins me on the line. Good morning, Sharon, Good
morning Katie.
Speaker 2 (00:53):
Thanks for having me on the show.
Speaker 1 (00:55):
Oh, thank you so much for your time. Now, Sharon,
I understand that you lost your mum in twenty seventeen.
Can you tell us what happened?
Speaker 2 (01:04):
Yeah, my mum actually had bad of breast cancer for
twelve years and she'd had two hip replacements and one
became dislocated in twenty seventeen. She was in so much pain,
so she basically all our lives was always about euthanasia
with our animals if they needed to be put down
in because of their pain and stuff. And my mom
(01:28):
basically decided she was going to take her life because
there was no choice in Australia at all at that time.
So my partner and I actually spoke to my month
about six weeks and I offered to go down and
actually lie next to her so she could take her
own life. But back then and now I'm sure, it
(01:48):
was basically a matter of that if you do that,
you'll probably go to jail, so I need to do
this by myself. She sat in her car with her
little dog who was fifteenth and took her own life. Yeah.
God bless cases for being there for her. Yeah. Yeah.
So it was very tragic, I guess because yet she
had no family, no friends, nobody around her because she
(02:11):
didn't want anyone to be implicated in helping her. And
of course for us, my partner, myself and my brother
and sister was very difficult knowing that she was going
to take her out in her own life, and we
couldn't help her with that.
Speaker 1 (02:27):
Sharon, I'm so sorry to hear that your mum, you know,
I went through that, and that your family, you know,
went through that, and that your mom was in that
kind of pain. I understand. She left diaries documenting her
life and her loss of independence, and her story is
something that was mentioned in parliament and attracted national and
(02:51):
international media. In terms of those diaries. Were they tough
to read after her passing over?
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Much so because I didn't realize how much pain she
was actually in before the January that we saw her
last in twenty seventeen. She was very tough lady, and
she really didn't let us know. I actually went through
the last seven years of her diaries and marked where
she'd mentioned euthanasia with little tags, and I also marked
(03:20):
where she was in pain. And actually I was very
lucky my partner and I got to meet with the
Experts Advisory Panel in the Northern Territory when they were
doing their research in their terms of reference, and I actually,
excuse me, took those diaries in so they could actually
read through them and see how much pain she had
(03:41):
been in. It was very devastating, as I say, for
all of our family and my friends and all the
people at mew M mum and the ironic thing. I
guess in a way that she was the justice of
the peace for many years, and she did lots of
other things, but the most important thing is I look
that she was a lifeline counselor voluntarily for eighteen years.
(04:04):
So I think about how many people she may have
helped over the time, and in a way there was
no one to help her.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Oh, Sharon, that makes me feel really like, that makes
me feel quite emotional thinking about what your mum's gone through.
And you know, and like I always think with voluntary
assisted dying is it's the last It should be the
last choice that we as humans make. And I know
that people have very differing views on this. I know
(04:33):
that everybody thinks differently. Whatever your views may be, you
can't deny in your mum's situation. You know she should
have that right to choose.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
That's correct. And I guess I would like to make
the point of why my partner and I advocate and
have done so for so long, was because my mum
read left me text message and she said, do you
mind if I read it.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
Yeah that's not good.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
Yeah, so she said, Chads, thanks so much for understanding.
You know, I can't do this existence anymore. Have nothing
to look forward to but pallative care in a nursing home.
Not doing that to you three or me. No youth
in Asia in New South Wales was once passing the
nt have it happen again? You of all people can
do it. Animals have it. We are animals to my legacy.
(05:22):
My spirit will always be watching over you. When you
see a happy pigeon, it will be me. So hence
that's why I contacted you, because it is my job
on her behalf, to make sure that nobody else gets
in that situation as she was in. And obviously in
(05:42):
the Northern Territory we don't have that right.
Speaker 1 (05:46):
Sharon. You know, I mean to anybody listening this morning,
who who is thinking to themselves? All right, this is
not something that's ajourn taur, It's not something you know
that we need to be rushing to do. What would
just to those people? I mean, I'd be surprised if
they think that after hearing what you've just read out
from your mum. But what would you say to those people?
Speaker 2 (06:09):
I think euthanasia is actually a choice just because it's
passed in law, not terminology correct with parliament stuff, But
it gives people a choice. You don't have to do it.
If you'd like to access it, there's a process that
the government has set up for you. But the biggest
(06:29):
thing I've always said, it's a choice. And we were
very lucky. Literally two months after my mom passed away,
Sandra Nelson was the Member for Catherine and we lived
in that area at the time, and she actually tabled
my mum's celebration of life booklets that we use for
her celebration of life party if you want to call it.
(06:51):
And then I also gave them the extracts from my
mum's diary for the last year and how much suffering
she had done. And I just look at it and
just go, you know, this has gone on since, you know,
November twenty seventeen. I've written to every Senator, all the
mt Chief Ministers over the time, the Governor General or
(07:13):
the Queen of England even when she was alive, and
lots of different government lots of people must know my
name and because my NL so larch, But I just
think it's devastating that you don't have a choice. And
I have a friend whose husband was very much well
(07:37):
to do Territory. He received an i AM in twenty
eighteen for his service to the stock injury industry because
he was part of developing the Buyernic arm. He had
a six year battle of cancer and ironically they had
a property over in Queensland, so they lived over there
(07:58):
and basically well, when he was too weak to do
anything and he was in misery, he just said, you know,
I can't take this life anymore, and sadly, I will
say sadly, but in a good way. He was happy.
And my girlfriend actually wrote in her letter the vad
(08:22):
doctor and the lovely assistant made me, made him feel
comfortable and left just to have time together. Cow was
jolly and after he enjoyed a beer and he designed
a gate for his farm, he said goodbye and told
the doctor he's ready to lie down and go to bed.
And she said it was explained that the injection would
(08:43):
put him to sleep, et cetera, et cetera. And he
was so funny that he even commented and said once more.
And she actually had the opportunity to cradle him in
her arm and basically he took two breaths and then
was asleep. Very sad for everyone, but that was her
husband's choice suffering.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
That's right. Look, I know it's a I know it's
a heavy topic for people to hear. I think that
voluntary assisted dying, it is one of those issues that
until you've watched a loved one suffer, until you've watched
a loved one pass away and in some cases go
through that suffering for a long period of time, you
(09:28):
may not be very opinionated on it. But I can
understand why why you are advocating for this following the
loss of your mum. You know, I know what it
was like watching my dad suffer through cancer and his
end of life was you know, it was a really
nice situation where his family were all around him at
(09:49):
the hospice and he had the care that he needed.
But you know, it's someone's choice when they are terminally
ill or when they are incredibly unwell. And and look,
I think it's really admirable that you are carrying on
with your mum's legacy. Sharon. We are going to have
(10:10):
to wrap up, but I'd be really keen to stay
in contact with you and continue this discussion if you'd
be keen to do that as we do get some
further updates from the Northern Territory government or certainly I
know the Member for Johnson, Justine Davis, is indeed looking
at whether she can introduce a private member's bill or
something else to try to make sure that this happens
(10:33):
as well.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
That's correct. And also Kate mcmura, we had a meeting
with her, my partner and I in January to discuss
the issue of how we could have it brought up
in parliament. I just it's a big wondering for me.
Like the Injuries Bill was overturned by let Godwin. He
did an amazing job on December first, twenty two down
in Canberra, and my mum's actual story was part of
(10:57):
that booklet put out by Gojen to the Senators and
I just go wow, that's a long time ago. He's
Bember first twenty two to now. And then we had
the Expert Advisory Panel in relation to VAD legislation in
ordn Territory. The did an amazing job going around and
finding information and I've got the actual documents and I'll
(11:19):
just go wow, that was done in twenty three. So
I'm just going this is taking a long time, and
there are people in places here suffering, like my girlfriend
and Catherine. She's terminally ill, but she has no choice
right now.
Speaker 1 (11:36):
Sharon, I'm really sorry. We are going to have to
wrap up because we've got to head across to the
National News. Thank you so much for sharing your story
with me morning. I really appreciate it, and we will
talk to you again soon.
Speaker 2 (11:48):
That would be fantastic. Have a great day.
Speaker 1 (11:50):
Thank you too, Thank you, thank you so much.
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