Hillcrest damages action
THE parents of children killed and injured in the Hillcrest Primary School bouncy castle tragedy in December will be seeking pain and suffering damages as they wait for answers on what transpired that horrific day.
The families also want to hear how, and when, an undisclosed amount of money raised through a community fund will be distributed.
Maurice Blackburn Lawyers senior associate Gezime Vasic said the parents of the children would suffer lifelong effects.
“We are representing some
of the families to get justice and answers on how, and why, the tragedy happened,” Ms Vasic said.
Six children died and three others were seriously injured after a freak gust of wind picked up a jumping castle and zorb balls at the Devonport school on December 16 and carried them 10m into the air.
The children fell onto the oval bringing a shocking stop to what was meant to be a fun end-of-school activities day.
“The handful of parents we are representing just want answers. We want anyone who witnessed the incident, from the oval, the classroom or the street, to come forward as we put the pieces together,” Ms Vasic said.
“In terms of the public fundraising, it is upsetting to the families that there has not yet been any distribution of money or clear explanation on why.”
Georgie Gardam – mother of Zane Mellor – said the legal action would likely focus on the bouncy castle company which provided the equipment that day and the education department.
“No amount of money will bring Zane back. I love him and I miss him and life will never be the same. I hate to have to scream about what went on but someone has to fight to make things right,” Ms Gardam said.
“I don’t want to look money-hungry, I am not. But this is about our children and all the wonderful people who donated to the Hillcrest Community Public Fund thinking the money would go to the impacted families.
“I just want to be able to remember my son. But someone has to be the bad guy here and get answers. My son lay on that oval until 5pm that day and no-one rang to say what happened. I heard through others.”
Ms Vasic said she had been told investigations into the tragedy would be completed later this year and an inquest likely held in 2023.
At an AFL tribute match played in Devonport in March – which also raised money for the community – then premier Peter Gutwein said the more than $1.4m raised through a GoFundMe campaign for the families affected by the tragedy would be released.
It has been.
But money raised through the Hillcrest Community Public Fund is still in limbo.
“They raised money in our children’s names but won’t even say how much is in it nor talk to us face to face. The community has not been told the money is still being held.”
The administrators of the Hillcrest Community Public Fund have been asked for comment on the issue.