On the morning of the first day of auditions for entry into the Acting Conservatory Program at QUT Creative Industries, Monday the 22nd of November, we received a phone call at home; our eleven-year-old daughter's classmate had been tragically killed. Maeve was a bright, beautiful and charismatic young girl who brought joy and well being into the lives of all she touched. On Sunday the 21st, while cycling with her father through the mountains in the hinterland of Brisbane, Maeve had been struck by a car. That morning she had shared a dream with her family. Maeve was at a train station, she had to board one train, her family another, they did not want to leave her but she assured them from that point she had to travel alone and all would be well. Later that day I began auditioning young actor hopefulls as they presented their pieces one by one. Adrenalin coursed through their veins; some coped, some were overcome and ran on autopilot, some were able to use the energy and channel it into their work. To so many of them, the audition felt like a life and death situation. And all I could think was – no it's not. Death in the process of life is inevitable. When it comes to a child it comes in the hardest way possible. A child's death feels like a robbery, a mistake, an impossibility. What we wouldn't give to change the circumstance, what a parent wouldn't exchange for that life to be restored. But there it is – irreversible and definite – the most sudden of all full stops. In our search for meaning we feel the spirit travels on – the journey moves to a station we cannot reach in this present experience – and this is the closest comfort we can find to assuage the numbing grief of the loss of a child. Along with other personal reflections, Maeve's passing urges me to put our work as actors into perspective. Auditioning no doubt is a confronting and challenging experience. But irreversible it is not. There is always the next time if we fail to achieve the outcome for which we are applying. But what if we changed the nature of the outcome and the manner in which we approached the audition – I'm sure Michael Shurtleff has said something similar. What if we made our goal – to simply do well in the audition and not worry about the outcome, what would happen to our nerves if we saw the opportunity to 'act' in an audition as an opportunity to be generous and share our passions and talent and artistry? I wonder, if we changed the perspective, would we see an audition, not as a life and death situation but rather as an opportunity to celebrate and express life through the art form for which we feel most passionate. I knew Maeve through our daughter, I know that she lived her truth; she celebrated life and shared her passions, her humour and her wisdom with great generosity. Her life is an inspiration to me, and if I could wish for anything it would be that my life would also inspire others. As an actor I have an opportunity to do just that – every time I give myself generously to the art form. And I would say to all the actors auditioning for schools or for roles – here is an opportunity to celebrate life not to fear it, here is an opportunity to share the magic of You. Thank you Maeve. | 
