The tragedy of Martin Bryant’s Port Arthur massacre lies deep in the heart of Tasmanians. Martin Bryant’s mother, Carleen Bryant, was interviewed on TV Channel Nine’s 60 Minutes last Sunday. Program transcript, A Mother’s Burden.

Both the fact of the interview occurring and its content have been widely discussed. see, Anger over Nine’s Bryant story  and  Father’s suicide put Bryant on path to Port Arthur massacre: mother  and  Bryant’s Mum still haunted.

Two years ago on the 13th anniversary of the massacre a new book, Born or Bred? Martin Bryant: The Making of a Mass Murderer, by Robert Wainwright and Paola Totaro (published by Fairfax Books, 2009), explored reasons for Martin Bryant’s murderous action. That exploration of the massacre also brought varied views and a reliving of the pain of the tragedy. See, On the 13th Anniversary of the Port Arthur massacre the quest continues to understand the life and motivations of murderer Martin Bryant.

No matter how well intentioned, it seems that the 60 Minutes’ interview of Martin Bryant’s mother has added little but pain to Tasmanians.

It raises the age old cry of the heart:  How do we deal with grief: individually and collectively?