John O'Connor aka. 'Pal'

John O'Connor, (died, September 27th 2008), was a homeless man in Sydney, Australia, whose death was widely reported, and which prompted "soul-searching about whether a new approach is needed for those with a complex mixture of mental health and addiction problems." [http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/this-amazing-man-touched-us-all/2008/10/09/1223145508298.html 'This amazing man touched us all'] - Sydney Morning Herald] . Well known in Kings Cross, a suburb close to the centre of Sydney, despite his difficulties in conforming to societal norms, and problems with the use of Heroin, many local business people and charity workers felt great compassion for him, and he became known affectionately as 'Pal' [http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/death-of-our-homeless-pal-milliondollar-man/2008/10/03/1223013791376.html "Death of our homeless 'Pal'"] - Sydney Morning Herald] .

He was reported as being the heaviest single user of the emergency department at St Vincent's Hospital, and following his death, a gathering of twenty paramedics recounted tales such as the time he helped resuscitate a suspected overdose victim. [http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,24433419-5007132,00.html "Sydney Medics mourn homeless 'mate'"] - news.com.au] With regular visits to various hospitals, charities and missions, it was estimated that up to a million dollars in assistance was spent on trying to help Mr O'Connor establish a happy and healthy life. Despite the expenditure, and a huge amount of goodwill locally, efforts proved to be in vain, and he died on Victoria Street on 27th September 2008.

A funeral service was held at St. Canice's Church, in Kings Cross, on October 9th 2008, and 70 mourners gathered to commemorate the life of a man with "a big heart and a hunger for love".

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