85 year-old author Noel Braun visited the Moree Community Library on Tuesday, giving a guided tour of his wife’s tragic suicide and the ensuing shakeup of his life.
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“In a way, the message I want to get across is to press on. No matter how hard things get in life, or what problems come your way, keep going,” he said.
His visit to the local library comes as the Moree Seniors Festival rolls into its third day. A church service and afternoon tea at Fairview Home for the Aged kicked off the week-long festival on Sunday, and seniors enjoyed a morning tea, bingo and entertainment from Kiah Preschool at Pius X hall on Monday.
Noel’s talk at the library on the following day set a more somber and serious tone.
Noel was 70 years-old when his wife Maris tragically took her own life.
“It happened on a Saturday, a week before my son’s wedding.”
Anguish ensued in the Jindabyne-native’s life, as he struggled to come to grips with the abrupt end of a 42-year marriage.
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“I never saw myself in this position. I had assumptions that we would grow old together. Life was going smoothly up to that point,” Noel said.
Noel penned the personal aftermath of the tragic suicide in the book No way to behave at a Funeral.
“What’s different about this book, is that it’s written by a man. You look at other, similar books and they’re written by females. Men make a hard time of writing down their feelings,” Noel said.
I was searching for meaning in life and the Camino de Santiago gave me structure. I’m still searching for that meaning today.
Noel also took a trip to France, to learn the language, which changed his life from then on.
“I spent six months in France where I saw the blessing of the pilgrims before they walked along the Camino de Santiago. I decided I would like to walk it.”
Noel would spend the next four years working on fitness at the gym, to the point that he became a self-described “gym junkie.”
He took on the ancient pilgrimage route from France to Spain to Santiago de Compostela when he was 77 years old. No small feat, considering it was a 700km hike.
“I was searching for meaning in life and the Camino de Santiago gave me structure. I’m still searching for that meaning today,” he said.
Every second year Noel revisits the Camino de Santiago and walks a different route. He has recorded his walk in the books The day was made for walking and I guess I’ll just keep on walking.
Noel will pass up on the walk this year to focus on sharing his experiences to audiences.
“I want to give a series of talks around the bush, because the city people have it all.”
He will also work on another book, adding to his catalog.
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