Gathering to walk in honour of young Jack

SLAIN Gold Coast teen Jack Beasley has been remembered by loved ones in a touching memorial two years on since his fatal stabbing.

A sea of green took to Damien Leeding Memorial Park at Oxenford early Sunday morning to mark the sombre occasion, hosted by grief-stricken parents Brett (top) and Belinda Beasley.

The inspiring pair, who in the wake of their son’s senseless death in 2019 launched the Jack Beasley Foundation, told the Bulletin “every day is a struggle” since they received the earth-shattering news on December 13.

Jack, 17, suffered a two-inch puncture wound to the heart after he was allegedly stabbed with a knife outside an IGA supermarket in Surfers Paradise following an altercation with a group of teens from nearby Logan City.

“It’s still hard, really hard, especially the way we lost Jack. It’s something I don’t think we’ll ever get over,” Mr Beasley (above) explained.

Hundreds turned out to take part in the annual Walk for Jack event, including Acting Chief Superintendent Rhys Wildman and Member for Bonney Sam O’Connor.

“My wife was in tears and to see the love and support out there for Jack is phenomenal,” Mr Beasley said.

“(Jack) would be loving the attention, he was bit of a show pony and enjoyed the limelight. He’d be a bit shy but I’m sure he was looking down on us today. We have to be his voice now.”

The Beasleys have worked closely with Supt Wildman to educate youths about the impacts of knife crime, spearheading a wanding trial that granted police powers to randomly “wand” people with a metal detector in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach.

Five youths – then aged between 15 and 18 – have been charged with murder.