SPEAKING UP FOR JOSH

Brave parents aim to help other kids

JOSH Coad should have been starting Year 9 this week.

Sadly the 14-year-old will never realise his full potential after taking his own life.

His parents have shared their heartbreaking story in the hope that it may save other lives.

THE flame of a lit candle flickers next to a framed school photograph of teenager Josh Coad in the living room of a grieving Huon Valley family’s home.

It is a poignant and everpresent reminder of his life, which tragically ended on October 28 last year when Josh died by suicide, aged just 14.

It left his parents, Brad and Kristy, younger sister Taylah and his extended family devastated, searching for answers and forced to come to terms with an unfathomable reality.

They have now had to endure their first Christmas without Josh — the boy they described as fun-loving, energetic and impulsive — yet sensitive and camera-shy.

He was an information technology whiz — his parents saying teachers said he probably knew more about the subject than they did — and loved music, the outdoors and his pet cat, Tiger.

“He was very jovial,’’ Brad said. “Especially when he was younger. He was the kid running around in the supermarket. He was energetic, the loudest kid in the classroom.”

Kristy said Josh had a great sense of humour.

“He loved a joke, but he was sensitive at the same time,’’ she said. “He sort of wore his heart on his sleeve.”

But Josh, who would have been starting Year 9 this week, will, sadly, never have the opportunity to realise his full potential.

Speaking at their rural home, Brad and Kristy grasp each other’s hands and fight back tears as they speak about their son and urge people to be kind to one another.

They say Josh was the victim of relentless bullying and two vicious physical assaults at Huonville High School.

Josh’s parents make it clear they do not blame anyone in particular for their son’s death, but say the toll of bullying weighed heavily on him.

They explain how their much-loved son urged them not to make a fuss after the first assault in June — a day before his 14th birthday.

Josh had been cowardpunched in the head during a fire drill on school grounds — the incident captured on the school’s CCTV cameras.

“He didn’t want me to go to the police because he thought it would make it worse,’’ Kristy said.

“I guess then I started to get a little bit of a picture that more was going on. He said ‘oh, they do this, they follow us around’.

“It was just before the end of term (in mid-September), the same thing happened.

Josh was targeted again. He was waiting at the bus stop and was hit again.”

It was this incident that prompted the parents to make a report to police, leading to a mediation meeting that included the alleged bully, his parents, Josh’s mother and a mediator.

Josh, who was becoming increasingly fearful, did not attend. He found the very thought of mediation with his alleged attacker traumatising.

And his parents say it ultimately did little to stem the constant bullying.

“I told this young boy that he wasn’t a bad kid and that you can’t fix problems with violence,’’ Kristy said.

“He did (apologise) and at the time it did seem sincere but now, looking back, I don’t think it was.

“Now one of Josh’s friends is also getting targeted … it’s thuggery. They just walk around looking for people to bash.”

Josh’s parents said their son was not a fighter — it wasn’t in his nature — but he reached a breaking point due to the constant bullying.

In the weeks and months leading up to his passing, Josh was also becoming anxious — even locking the car door for short periods — including one example when his father left the vehicle to go to a nearby ATM.

He was worried about security, kept his devices on flight mode, and was conscious of having his photo taken. The day before his death, Josh attended his great-grandmother’s funeral, and later went to the beach with his cousins.

There is a photo of Josh smiling, which was taken that night. Josh’s parents say their son could be impulsive and moody, but believed the same could be said for many teens.

They claim the school did not do enough to protect Josh and believe there needs to be greater mental health support for students in the public education system.

“I want to be a voice for Josh. We can’t help him, but we might be able to help somebody else, and that’s why we’re telling his story,’’ Kristy said.

“He didn’t deserve this. He was a good kid. No kid deserves this and no parent should have to go through this.”

Josh’s parents say they want their son’s legacy to include more support for victims and a greater focus on the importance of being kind to each other.

“And if parents can just sit down and talk to their children, and for them to know it’s OK to talk about your (feelings).”

Kristy praised the Huon Valley community for its support of the family.

Josh’s death is subject to a coronial investigation.

No He was a good kid. No kid deserves this and no parent should have to go through this.

Kristy Coad