Songs of sorrow as Family, friends give a rock tribute to Mitch

A SOLEMN hush fell over the cathedral as the first note from Mitchell Eveleigh?s guitar echoed around the high ceiling and into the hearts of those he left behind. It was only a few minutes, but as his friend and fellow musician Ben Nolan delivered a soulful rendition of Mitch?

s favourite song, Stairway to Heaven, a wave of warmth spread among the grieving. Yesterday, the pews in Lismore?s St Carthage?

s Cathedral belonged to the youth. Puffy-eyed teenagers wore shirts branded with rock names: Metallica, Wolfmother, Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, all a tribute to the 16-year-old Goonellabah guitarist?s love of heavy metal.

Mitchell Eveleigh?s funeral was the first of four. He died with his best friends Paul Morris and Corey New, 16, and Bryce Wells, 17.

At 12.20am, on Sunday morning, the lives of those teenagers ended when the car they were coming home in crashed into trees on The Coast Road near Broken Head. The cathedral was filled to capacity with about 700 people; family, students, friends, paramedics and police.

Richmond Local Area Commander Bruce Lyons gave words of comfort to Mitch?s parents, Karen and Robert, his sister Rachel and brother Logan. "To Rachel and Logan, in days to come not far away you will see the sun shine again," he said.

"You will look up into the sky and see your brother dancing on the steps of Heaven." He also spoke directly to Tyler Green, the driver of the car, who was seated among the mourners. Supt Lyons pleaded with Tyler to take comfort in knowing his four best mates were safe in the arms of God.

"They are in a peace and tranquility none of us are yet to know about," he said. "I did not know Mitchell Eveleigh, but when I leave this church today, I will love him as a brother." Mitchell?

s close friend Joe Kelly delivered the eulogy, speaking of his mate?s generosity and unfailing happiness. "For the past 16 years he?

s been making the world a better place," he said. "He made everyone feel good about themselves in one way and he was always there for everyone. "He never let anyone down.

" Mitchell?s coffin was carried out from the cathedral with his father Robert leading the way, followed by family members of all the young men who died. Members of the Eveleigh family carried Mitch?

s acoustic guitars. The driver of the car that crashed, Tyler Green, showed extraordinary bravery as he walked past the teary-eyed mourners, who offered compassionate glances to the obviously grief-stricken young man. Outside, a throng of national media waited by the gates of the cathedral.

Mitchell Eveleigh was laid to rest at the Lismore Lawn Ceme- tery.