The best and worst of 2018
IT’S been another year filled with poignant moments that have left indelible marks on our collective psyches.
For me there were two events in particular occurring within days of each other that highlighted the very best and worst of human nature in 2018.
The rescue of the Wild Boars soccer team and their coach from a flooded cave was a collaborative triumph that had millions around the world rejoicing, while the horrific double murder of teenagers Jack and Jennifer Edwards in the Sydney suburb of West Pennant Hills showed the depravity of man at his most wicked.
Tragically, there was a devastating development earlier this month to the premeditated murder of 15-year-old Jack and his sister, 13-year-old Jennifer on July 5.
After five months of suffering the unimaginable grief of losing her precious children, Olga Edwards, took her own life in the same home where the siblings were murdered by their estranged father, John Edwards.
She was only 37 years old. Olga endured every mother’s worst nightmare and could no longer cope with the pain.
Friends said the prospect of facing Christmas without Jack and Jennifer was simply too much for Olga to bear.
She was a devoted mother who had gone to great lengths to protect her children from her violent ex but, in the end, it was not enough.
Her former partner stalked them online and found their new address and despite being involved in an acrimonious divorce and legal proceedings he was able to access firearms.
He then rented a car so when he arrived at the home the children shared with Olga they would not see him coming and have a chance to flee. He found the children huddled together in a bedroom and opened fire. Police sources close to the investigation say that Jack had tried in vain to protect his younger sister during the shooting.
Words cannot adequately describe the malice, wickedness and cowardice of a father who hunts down his own children, shooting them dead as they cling to each other for support.
There is sometimes in cases of parents killing children a determination to explain the evil by blaming a psychotic break or some other inexplicable moment of madness.
But according to police, Edwards’ crime was carefully planned for months with the 68-year-old financial planner obtaining a firearms licence last year in preparation for his evil act.
The gutless coward then turned the gun on himself.
Olga was left to deal with the heartbreaking aftermath and despite receiving regular counselling, hospital care and having family, friends and neighbours who cared for her welfare she was found dead two weeks ago.
Edwards’ evil resulted in the deaths of three innocent lives.
He killed Olga just as he killed the children, he killed her after subjecting her to the most horrific cruelty any mother can suffer.
A senior police officer called it a “slow murder”.
It’s hard to think what else could’ve been done to save Olga. Every mother I have spoken to about her death believes that it was a tragedy that was almost unavoidable.
As a community we need to ask why was a man who was banned from seeing his own children after a bitter custody dispute, a man who had violent incidents in his past allowed to own firearms.
And why wasn’t Olga informed that he had obtained a firearms licence and guns?
Now, of course this crime could’ve been committed with another weapon but maybe those kids would’ve had a chance if Edwards wasn’t armed with a gun.
We need to do better to protect women and children who show great courage in fleeing abusive relationships.
Or we’ll continue to hear about kids being killed by a parent who wants to punish their ex-partner in the most horrible way imaginable.
For me the most joyous story of the year was the rescue of 12 boys aged from 11 to 16 and their young coach from the Tham Luang cave.
Not only did the rescuers achieve what was feared impossible but the spirit of camaraderie and co-operation between the international team was heartening.
FOR ME THE MOST JOYOUS STORY OF THE YEAR WAS THE RESCUE OF 12 BOYS AGED FROM 11 TO 16 AND THEIR YOUNG COACH FROM THE THAM LUANG CAVE