“Teachers tend to think of their students as their kids, we tend to become defacto parents in a way and so the loss of any student is felt very deeply,” Mr Finkernagel said.

Mr Finkernagel experienced a similar situation many years ago with a teacher taking their own life at a school in Canberra.

“Back then we had no grief counselling that I can remember.

“Since the incident last week the mood of the school has been quiet, there has been a lot of comforting and we are trying to run the school as normal.

“I must commend the teachers, students and local media for how they have handled this whole thing,” he said.

By GLENN ELLARD

THE SUPPORT students have offered for each other in the face of tragedy has been praised as Bomaderry High School students have farewelled former classmate Ryan Walsh.

Students paid their last respects for Ryan during a memorial service held at the school yesterday afternoon.

The memorial service heard Ryan described as a “talented and considerate young man” who “shone amongst his peers in his own unique way”.

Fellow students spoke of Ryan’s sense of humour, his gentle nature, his quiet and unassuming behaviour, and his dedication and success in basketball.

While some students expressed their own regrets at not being close enough to prevent Ryan’s death, with comments such as, “I just wish we could have caught you before your fall,” school counsellor Noel Eastwood said those thoughts could never find a satisfactory answer.

He said many students would be asking themselves “Why?”, “What if?” and “If only.”

“It’s best not to burden ourselves further by trying to answer the unanswerable,” Mr Eastwood said.

As everyone grieved in different ways, “The best thing we can do is be a friend,” he said.

However Mr Eastwood said he had learnt in recent days “how well we as a school community have helped and supported each other”.

The behaviour of students in the wake of the tragedy, the way they had supported each other through difficult times, was also praised by school principal Jill Appleton.

“By your behaviour you have made it possible for the school to cope with what has been difficult and emotional circumstances,” Ms Appleton told the gathered students.

While counsellors have been at the school since the tragedy, they were again made available to students following yesterday’s memorial service.