12:00a.m. 9th October 2008

| By Amy Remeikis

Joshua Marek Dawes’ family and friends released balloons to say goodbye to the little boy at yesterday's memorial service. Photo: Brett Wortman / 178739

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When the way ahead is scary who goes first?

Someone who is brave and strong. Someone like Joshua.

The children’s version of the Bible story Joshua was read out to Joshua Marek Dawes’ family and friends yesterday during a memorial service to celebrate the six-year-old’s full life.

Joshua died on September 30 after falling from a golf buggy during a family holiday at Hamilton Island.

Family and friends gathered at the Sunshine Coast Grammar School chapel to remember a boy who always made them laugh and protected those he loved.

They were led in the memories by his father Paul, mum Diane, little brother Ethan, his Nana and Grandad Train and the school chaplain Pastor Jon Taylor.

Paul remembered when Joshua asked him “Dad, why are we here on earth?” during one of their father-son adventures.

He said he found the answer in a song and The Riddle by Five for Fighting came to represent the bond between the two.

“For your benefit, the reason for the world Joshua (is) you and me,” he said quoting a favoured line from their special song.

The chapel walls were decorated with messages to the almost seven-year-old from the school’s Year 1 students and were accompanied by pictures of trains – appropriate for a boy his parents fondly called train mad.

From the mouths of babes came some of the most simple but heartfelt messages.

“He helped me when I feel down. He was a good leader. He was a best friend,” one message written in a childish scrawl said.

“Dear Joshua. You were a very good buddy. You always made me laugh. From your buddy Jonah,” was another.

“We hope you have 100 friends in Heaven,” Lilliane wrote, while Georgia remembered playtime.

“I loved Joshua D playing tennis with me. Joshua was a great friend.”

And from a boy named Shane – “We wont yoo bac Joshua”.

Some of Joshua’s favourite songs were played while photos of the fun-loving boy were shown to the crowd, many of whom were wearing a splash of his favourite colour, red.

The New Zealand anthem was played for the Dawes’ “brave little Kiwi boy” by a self-confessed “true blue Wallaby”.

After it was played a breeze swept through the chapel and made the red and black balloons tied to chairs dance, delighting many of Joshua’s friends.

His best friend Matilda sat up front with Joshua’s family and helped look after Ethan, giving him little hugs.

With her hair in two long pigtails she stood in front of the room and read out a prayer for Joshua asking Jesus to look out for her best friend, adding “PS. Wait until you see what awesome things he can make with Leggo.”

The celebration finished with Joshua’s friends saying their goodbyes through the release of balloons.

It was a fitting way to send a message to a boy who dreamed of building a Leggo rocket to the stars.

“Where has Joshua gone?” one little boy asked as he played with toys at the back of the service.

“He is in heaven,” a young girl answered. “He’s up there with the stars.”