A statement from Mel (DJ Feisty) Fitzpatrick
On Saturday the 4th of September, Mandy Rollins went missing and became uncontactable by phone some time after 7.30pm.
On Sunday, the 5th of September, items of Mandy’s personal property (her cap, wallet, phone and watch) were recovered by police at The Gap at Watson’s Bay.
At this stage police have been unable to recover Mandy’s body and as yet we are not in a position to confirm her passing.
Unfortunately, events leading up to last Saturday in Mandy’s life lead us to hold grave fears for her safety.
Mandy intermittently battled with depression but was generally happy with her life and was very much looking forward to the future, especially Extra Dirty in October.
We are all deeply shocked and devastated that she unravelled so quickly.
More than anything we would love to think that she will walk back into our lives but we have been advised to presume the worst.
At this stage there are no plans for a formal memorial service or funeral but I have decided to proceed with Extra Dirty as a tribute to our beautiful girl as she was so loved by so many in our community and I know that this is what she would want.
Mandy was very proud of her achievements and felt very much loved by our community.
She was one of the finest DJs we have ever had the pleasure to listen and to dance to and was certainly my favourite DJ.
I know she brought incredible joy to many. Personally I feel like I have lost the other half of my soul.
I will of course provide more details when I have them from the police and request that you respect Mandy and her family and close friends at this very difficult time.
Thank you for the many messages of love and support.
-Mel Fitzpatrick (AKA Feisty)
Picture- Mandy Rollins
So sorry. Truly saddening
Deeply Saddened But Until I Hear They’ve Found Her, I Wont Give Up Sending ” Positive Meditations ” To Bring Her Back.
Please Mandy, If Your Out There, Know You Are Deeply Loved, Everyone Wants To Help Uplift You.✿Empathy To Mel & Family✿
My thoughts and hopes are with you Mel.
So sad to hear the news and still cant believe it.
I loved every chance I got to play with you Mandy and always admired your skill and humble way.
I hope you have found the peace you were searching for.
We will miss you.
xxxxx
Such a sad sad time, what a big loss for all our community.
Hopefully she is able to be in a happier now. Lots of love to her direct family and friends – I can only image their pain x x x
DJ sista, may your soul be in a happy place, may your life be remembered and where ever you are may you find eternal peace & happiness. Peace out!
i’m all the way in london now, but i hold such brilliant memories of dancing on the floor at phoenix to mandy’s music! i remember a shy girl, but something womderful and captivating about that shyness and the stare that came from under the cap visor.. a truly talented person who has left too early, but i hope she found a place to be that has given her peace. love to to all who were closest to Mandy xx
A kind, warm friend
and talented musician
Huge Loss , Huge Loss
So so Sad
Firstly I just want to wish Mandy’s partner our deepest condolences….
My brother, Bas, just came home from Mandy’s memorial at the Clarence, pissed off his head on Sambuca. Mandy’s favourite drink.
I was shocked but also understood Mandy’s passing.
I have also suffered from long-term chronic depression but I tried to self medicate with Tina, but it just masquerades the cause and you feel like death afterwards.
And for the whole GLBTI community, do not turn to Chems to solve your problems. Go to your G.P. and have a talk. They are there to recommend you to the right professionals.
I don’t mean to state that Mandy was using Chems before her passing. This is just my opinion on my own battles with depression.
Regards to Mandy’s Partner.
Vale Mandy, love, light and true peace to you! With much love and respect Ian Jopson xox
Dear Mel, her mates and all her family and friends,
So sad and shocked to hear. Danced to your sexy deep beats so many years and places. Recently you had me on Phoenix dance floor for the first time in a few years – even or specially as a mum of a young baby boy – thumping around in my old platform boots till they literally fell apart.
So very hard for all close to you – feelings of guilt and regret – the what if…are so hard to resolve. My father killed himself – seemed happy/fine – then was gone. There are no answers for everyone left only knowing that somehow this seemed a solution to you. But i know now is that just hanging on even a few days things change and seem better.
Will be thinking of you on the dance floor jac
So much magic in her music, but perhaps too hard without it…
We gotta learn to look after each other a bit better, hey?
On behalf of all of us here at the Midnight Shift Hotel, we send our condolences to Mandy’s family and friends. Our collective thoughts and prayers are extended to all those who battle with demons, and we pray that angels prevail….
So so sad.
melbourne blue elephant cafe pre-mandy rollins dj (respect!) days, the early dirty days of phoenix (*the* most sexy rocking sets – danced myself into delirium every time), roobar, ffierce, icebox and so much more… cap, eyes, smile, a hello 2 weeks ago on the street during a flying trip to sydney… then this… it’s hard to contemplate the depth of desolation you must have felt/be feeling. not difficult to *understand* for those of us who are affected by this most deadly and invisible of dis-eases, just difficult to comtemplate your pain, so i wish it away and hope like hell that you are still with us, and that this outpouring of love from those you know and never knew will call you back to the warm embrace of this community. respect and compassion, love and strength to your loved ones, mandy. holding onto hope. V x
….
to others who suffer – people have mentioned SANE and Lifeline as support networks. other resources are online mailing lists and support groups (I swore by them when I was in no position to be out in the world…), and 12 step groups like GROW. make use of counselors and even your GP, always have a safety net of people working towards maintaining wellbeing… please reach out if you are feeling hopeless and helpless. someone else has felt the things you are feeling.
Whilst I did not know Mandy, this is so terribly sad and my thoughts and best wishes are with her family and friends.
I’m in shock hearing this news : (
i did not know you well Mandy.. but when you worked your magic on the decks you were one of the most gracious people i’ve ever had the pleasure to share creative space with. you always remembered me and had a smile and a hello even if i had not seen you for years. my heart goes out to those who are close to Mandy. may you all find solace and compassion. Sam xxx
Have only just heard the shocking news. Thank you Mandy for bringing your music to Ffierce! It was a pleasure working with you and dancing to you.
i suffer from depression. Have been to so many parties and been uplifted by Mandy’s music. Let’s not give up hope!
This is incredibly sad. I recall Mandy as someone I always respected and regarded with a little awe. You rock, wherever you are sister!
Your disappearance, and the issues leading up to it make me even more aware of the pressures and challenges that affect EVERYONE, and that even when we seem to have it all, life as we know it can seem to unravel at any time.
The really sad thing is that there is so much good help available for anyone struggling with depression, and with life in general. For anyone struggling, any anyone wanting to give up, please get in touch with a counsellor or with organisations like SANE or beyond blue, or try something like Path of Love or other process work that really shifts stuff when it all feels just too hard.
The challenges of living outside the box are real and sometimes incredibly frightening.
Vale Mandy, with love. I truly hope you’re in a better place.
Let’s look after each other in this community … and respect the decision we make, with compassion and love
So saddened to get this news. Mandy you gave me so many wonderful nights at Phoenix, enraptured, transported by your music. So missing u!
A good friend of mine was a good friend of Mandy’s. Whatever has happened, it’s obviously not good and I would like to send hugs and love to those who need them. She’s clearly loved.
The sadest news Mel my heart goes out to you and still holds on to hope that Mandy is still out there. I knew Mandy from the early days, Late night sets followed by working together at the old Roobar cafe. A wonderful girl always lit up my day and rocked my nights. Love you Mandy.
This is incredibly sad. I recall you as someone I always respected and regarded with a little awe. You rock, wherever you are sister!
Your disappearance, and the issues leading up to it make me even more aware of the pressures and challenges that affect EVERYONE, and that even when we seem to have it all, life as we know it can seem to unravel at any time.
The really sad thing is that there is so much good help available for anyone struggling with depression, and with life in general. For anyone struggling, any anyone wanting to give up, please get in touch with a counsellor or with organisations like SANE or beyond blue, or try something like Path of Love or other process work that really do shift stuff when it all feels just too hard.
The challenges of living outside the box are real and sometimes incredibly frightening.
Vale Mandy, with love. I truly hope you’re in a better place.
Let’s look after each other in this community … and respect the decision we make, with compassion and love
I didn’t know Mandy, just knew OF her skill as a DJ and as a fellow member of a very small Australia-wide queer community. I had a friend go missing many many years ago and I know something about sitting in that hideous limbo of waiting to hear the thing you don’t want to hear and wanting more than anything for them to walk back in the door – but most of all, just wanting the uncertainty to end. For what it’s worth I’m thinking of all Mandy’s loved ones in this hellish time.
Sitting here with cloudy eyes and vivid memories in my head of the fun and shenanigans we shared with Mandy at Phoenix, MG …
We are so totally shocked to hear this dreadful news. Depression is such a terrible illness and we just never know who is in trouble until it is sometimes too late. Watch out for all our brothers and sisters and please if you can, look through the public faces we all put on, and if there is room to show that you care, please show it and do it with love.
Our thoughts go to everyone who knew Mandy and especially to Mel. Our love and thoughts to you love. Please be good and kind to yourself at this terrible time and make good use of the support from your close friends. All our love,
Mark Butcher and David Dyer.
Having suffered from depression it’s just so hard sometimes to see beyond the depression. Mandy, you give so many such joy. When you’re not feeling the joy yourself, just hang on. Things change, as hard as that is for us to believe or see sometimes. We must, as a community, continue to work towards getting rid of the stigma attached to depression and continue to offer support and love for those around us that suffer. Mel, all the best thoughts for you and admiration for the support and love you are giving to Mandy.