A modern-day love story cut short . . .
On 28 April 1996, Walter Mikac lost his wife, Nanette, and two daughters, six-year-old Alannah and three-year-old Madeline. They were shot dead, along with 32 other innocent people, during the Port Arthur massacre in Tasmania.
'To Have and to Hold' is Walter's tribute to Nanette and the girls, and their uniqueness. Walter recounts their early life together, their love for each other and the years of happiness they shared - all of which have sustained him through his grief.
He tackles with courage and honesty aspects of bereavement that are rarely acknowledged. After having the love and security of a family, he is now a single person confronting an unknowable future. He has also found himself thrust into the media spotlight, his grief exposed for the world to see.
Through the issue of gun control and the establishment of the Alannah and Madeline Foundation, Walter has channelled his energy into ensuring that their lives were not lost in vain - a commitment that was sparked by meeting the parents who lost children in Scotland's Dunblane massacre.
Walter Mikac is an ordinary person who, through no fault of his own, has been put in an extraordinary position. Coping with the unimaginable loss of his family has led Walter down a spiritual path of discovery - one of hope and belief that the circle of life continues. His grace and dignity in the face of tragedy have inspired a nation.
