A crowd in Sydney's Hyde Park gathered to honor homeless man Bikram Lama, emphasizing that no one should die alone and unseen. Erin Longbottom, a homelessness support worker, delivered a poignant message about the need for community support.
Key points
A memorial for Bikram Lama took place in Sydney's Hyde Park.
Erin Longbottom delivered a powerful message about homelessness.
Attendees held electric candles in various colors.
Bikram Lama's non-resident status hindered his access to support.
A tribute song was performed by his friend Joe Trueman.
Mentioned in this story
Bikram LamaErin LongbottomJoe TruemanSydneySt Vincent’s Health
No one should be left to die in the middle of Sydney, alone and unseen.
That was the powerful message delivered by homelessness support worker Erin Longbottom to a crowd gathered in Hyde Park to honour Bikram Lama.
The crowd gathered at dusk under the fig tree canopy of Sydney’s Hyde Park, tucked behind St James station, holding electric candles in blue, red, white and purple.
His friend, Joe Trueman, a former rough sleeper, played the Phil Collin’s song on the guitar in tribute: “Another day in Paradise”.
St Vincent’s Health, which had been attempting to assist Lama before his death, say his non-resident status made it near-impossible for him to escape homelessness.
“Late last year, my team and I arrived at work to the news that one of the young non-residents we had been trying to support had died,” Longbottom, St Vincent’s homeless health service nursing unit manager, said at the vigil on Thursday.
“That was Bikram. Tonight we remember him.”
“A young man who came here with hope, for study, for opportunity, and for a future. A person who lived, and struggled, and died unseen.”
Homelessness support worker Erin Longbottom described Bikram Lama as a “person who lived, and struggled, and died unseen”.
Homelessness support worker Erin Longbottom described Bikram Lama as a “person who lived, and struggled, and died unseen”. Photograph: Jessica Hromas/The Guardian
Lama, who came to Australia from Nepal, is thought to have remained undiscovered for up to a week and his body was decomposed by the time he was found by station staff.
His elderly mother was then asked to travel to Kathmandu from her remote village to provide a DNA sample to confirm her son’s identity.
The coroner’s court confirmed this week it is still waiting on that formal identification process to conclude. The delays have frustrated the Australian-Nepalese community, who say it is creating lingering distress for his family.
Q&A
Who was Bikram Lama and why was he honored in Sydney?
Bikram Lama was a homeless man whose death prompted a gathering in Sydney to honor his life and raise awareness about homelessness.
What message did Erin Longbottom convey at Bikram Lama's memorial?
Erin Longbottom emphasized that no one should die alone and unseen, highlighting the importance of community support for the homeless.
What challenges did Bikram Lama face regarding his homelessness?
Bikram Lama's non-resident status made it nearly impossible for him to escape homelessness, as noted by St Vincent’s Health.
What tribute was paid to Bikram Lama during the memorial service?
A friend of Bikram Lama, Joe Trueman, played Phil Collins' song 'Another Day in Paradise' on the guitar as a tribute.
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A man spun a Buddhist prayer wheel during gathering in Hyde Park to remember the life of Bikram Lama.
A man spun a Buddhist prayer wheel during gathering in Hyde Park to remember the life of Bikram Lama. Photograph: jessica Hromas/The Guardian
Bam Bunyalak came to the vigil as someone who has known what it’s like to be homeless and a non-resident in Australia.
After arriving from Thailand on a student visa, Bunyalak told Guardian Australia she escaped family violence and became homeless for years with no access to healthcare and support.
Bam Bunyalak arrived from Thailand on a student visa, and spoke of her own experience of being homeless.
Bam Bunyalak arrived from Thailand on a student visa, and spoke of her own experience of being homeless. Photograph: Jessica Hromas/The Guardian
In her speech, she said being a non-resident in Australia can feel like a kind of “disease with many symptoms”.
“Homelessness is one of the symptoms. mental health struggles is another, she said.
“Bikram Lama deserved a better life, but now he is gone. He did not get the chance to say goodbye to his family, and it feels like nobody cared.
“So today, I stand here as a non-resident, one voice among many non-residents to say that every single life matters, regardless of race, gender identity, background or residency.”
MP Alex Greenwich said he had met with premier Chris Minns following Bikram Lama’s death.
MP Alex Greenwich (second from right) said he had met with the premier, Chris Minns, following Bikram Lama’s death. Photograph: Jessica Hromas/The Guardian
Also at the vigil, independent state MP Alex Greenwich said he had met with premier Chris Minns and written to the state attorney general, Michael Daley, to urge for an inquest be held to examine potential policy failings.
“I’m concerned that at a state and federal level, we have policies that discriminate against rough sleepers who are non-residents,” he said.
Bikram Lama, who died while sleeping rough in Hyde Park, pictured before he came to Australia to study computer science in 2013.
Bikram Lama, who died while sleeping rough in Hyde Park, pictured before he came to Australia to study computer science in 2013. Photograph: Supplied by family
Greenwich said Lama died only about 200 metres from NSW parliament.
“It is in that house and in our parliament, that policies are made, decisions are made, that may very well have contributed to the death of Bikram,” he said.
The death is one of three recent cases that have shocked the nation.
