SCHOOL REELS AS TRAGEDY SINKS IN
HEARTBROKEN father Andrew Cadman remains at the hospital bedside of his seriously injured wife in Barcelona, as the family grieves the loss of their little boy, Julian, following last Thursday’s terror attacks.
Mr Cadman is with wife Jumarie “Jom’’ Cadman, 42, as she recovers from the injuries she received when a speeding van driven by a terrorist slammed through crowds on the Las Ramblas tourist street, killing 13 people.
The couple’s son Julian, 7, was among those killed as he walked down the street with his mother while in Spain to attend a wedding.
No decisions have been made about when little Julian’s body may be repatriated, with the family being given as much time as they need to grieve.
The Catalan government has said all international victims of the attack would be repatriated to their home countries.
The Cadmans are being supported by family and friends who have flown to Barcelona.
A devastated Western Sydney community yesterday remembered Julian as a little boy “who would give his teachers a hug every day”.
A handwritten note reading “Julian, I miss you. Love, Samuel,” was left at the door of his empty Lalor Park home, alongside a bunch of flowers.
His school, St Bernadette’s Primary, held a special assembly in his honour yesterday.
“He was much loved. Julian is a beautiful little boy, he’s in year two and has been here since kindergarten,” Catholic educations’s Mark Rix said shortly after school resumed for the week.
The school was yesterday grappling with how to deal with the tragedy, with grief counsellors called in to help parents, students and teachers explain why Julian would not be coming back from his trip to Spain with his mother Jom.
“The staff came together early to support each other. They are obviously devastated. It is very challenging for adults to comprehend, let alone children,” he said.
“There’s been a short assembly this morning. The community is staying together and trying to support each other.”
Parent Karuna Nicodemus, whose son Manas Idumalla was in the same year as Julian and played with him, said she and her family were struggling to cope with the loss.
“The children are really upset because it’s very sudden news,” she said.
“As a mother I can’t explain how horrible it is. It’s such a devastating experience, such a lovely boy. You’re scared even to go to public places.”