Grieving mum, 43, is left overwhelmed after thousands of kind strangers offer to visit her son's grave to tell him she loves him - as border closures prevent her from reaching her boy
- Hannah Robertson visited son's grave whenever she could since he died in 2018
- Ms Robertson lives in northern NSW but Khaya is buried in Melbourne
- The COVID outbreak has broken her heart as she remains unable to reach him
- The 43-year-old asked members of a Facebook group to visit Khaya in her place
- Half a dozen Melburnian women now stop by with flowers a few times a week
A grieving mother has been overwhelmed by the kindness of strangers who have taken it upon themselves to visit her young son's grave.
Hannah Robertson visited Khaya's grave whenever she could after he died at the age of 22 in November 2018.
The 43-year-old made the 1,630 kilometre journey from her home in northern New South Wales to Melbourne's Parkville Cemetery where her firstborn is buried every few months until COVID halted non-essential travel and slammed state borders shut.
Heartbroken to be separated from her boy, she posted in a parenting group on Facebook asking anyone who lives in the area to stop by for just a few minutes and send a mother's love on her behalf.
Ms Robertson was 'astounded' to receive over 1,000 responses from women promising to walk through the cemetery as part of their government-mandated daily exercise.
Scroll down for video
Hannah Robertson dances with her son Khaya in October 2018, six weeks before his untimely death
'I would love so very much for you to visit briefly and let him know his mum loves him,' Ms Robertson wrote in the caption of a heartwarming photo of her and Khaya dancing at a wedding just six weeks before his untimely death.
'It is a ritual I know, as I feel him everywhere, but at the moment it is one I would so love to be able to do.'
Ms Robertson told Daily Mail Australia she's been inundated with messages from people who have gone to pay their respects and leave flowers for her son.
'I'll go on the weekend, he is just beautiful, you should be so proud. Thank you for sharing with other women the nurturing responsibility for our youth,' one woman said.
Share this article
Ms Robertson (pictured with Khaya in 2018) regularly made the 1,630km journey from her home in northern New South Wales to Melbourne where her boy is buried until COVID halted non-essential travel and slammed state borders shut
A comment from a caring Melburnian who promised to visit Khaya on Ms Robertson's behalf
Ms Robertson said she was overwhelmed with the kindness and compassion of people who offered to stop by, like this woman who vowed to do so at the weekend
Comments flooded in from thousands of people, all eager to rally around the grieving mother in these extraordinary times
A second who lives nearby and runs past the cemetery everyday said: 'Let me know where he is and I'll go tomorrow morning.'
Others said they were 'so sorry' for Ms Robertson's loss and would be 'honoured' to visit on her behalf.
She said knowing that Khaya is looked after is all she needs to stay strong until the outbreak is over and she can visit again.
'Half a dozen go on their exercise route, and another half a dozen who live further away have promised to visit when restrictions are lifted,' she said.
'I've been very emotional and I posted in the group on a whim. It's all been quite a beautiful surprise. I just wanted someone to go and share my love in person.'
But while the outpouring of support was unexpected, Ms Robertson said she shouldn't have been shocked because of the kind of person Khaya was in his short life.
'He was larger than life. For people to celebrate him like this after he's gone is no huge surprise,' she said.
And it's not the first time the family have been humbled by the power of social media.
Ms Robertson said Khaya (centre at Falls Festival in Byron Bay) was 'larger than life'
Last year, Khaya's partner Jasmine tagged Ms Robertson in an Instagram post promoting Zoe Foster-Blake's book 'Break-Up Boss', which advises readers how to cope with the heartbreak of romantic loss.
A few days later, the two women received giant gift boxes packed with products from Go-To, Foster-Blake's cosmetics line.
'She had obviously gone onto Jasmine's page, then seen mine, and just decided to send us that,' Ms Robertson said.
'We've really received incredible support through social media, people have just been incredible.'
Comments 0
Share what you think
No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards.
