JUSTICE FOR MALIQ
Call for reform of childcare system as family grieves toddler
THE great grandmother of a toddler found dead on a daycare bus has made an impassioned call for justice.
Paternal great grandmother Shireen Malamoo – an artist and activist – called for reform of a “broken” childcare system and justice for Maliq (Meeky) Nicholas Floyd Namok-Malamoo. The body of Maliq, 3, was discovered in a bus operated by the Edmonton Goodstart daycare centre last month at the Hambledon State School car park.
Yesterday his family and friends filled the Gordonvale chapel at Heritage Brady Funeral Directors to which media were permitted to attend.
Ms Malamoo said they would carry their grief for a lifetime.
“It is on our watch to ensure that justice prevails.”
In a moving tribute Maliq’s mother, Muriel Namok, shared loving memories of a child who had an artistic streak and a love of Shrek, sour plums and trains.
A TENDER farewell for threeyear-old Maliq Malamoo has been marked by a strident call for justice by his activist great grandmother.
Maliq (Meeky) Nicholas Floyd Namok-Malamoo died tragically while attending the Edmonton Goodstart daycare centre last month.
His body was discovered in a bus operated by the centre on February 18 at the Hambledon State School car park.
His paternal great grandmother, Shireen Malamoo - an artist and activist - called for reform of a “broken” childcare system and justice for Maliq.
“We all grieve our loss in circumstances that should never have happened,” Ms Malamoo told nearly 500 mourners yesterday.
“We will carry this grief for our lifetimes. It is on our watch to ensure that justice prevails.”
Ms Malamoo ended her tribute to Maliq with a call to action by those allegedly responsible for Maliq’s death.
“May you never sleep … you must ethically (and) financially acknowledge that the childcare system is broken,” she said.
“We seek justice for Maliq … we demand accountability and due diligence in the care of all our children.”
In a show of community support, more than $14,000 was raised for the funeral via crowdfunding.
Maliq’s small white coffin was carried into the full Gordonvale chapel at Heritage Brady Funeral Directors on the shoulders of his adult relatives, still coming to terms that his time was cut short so early in life.
Maliq’s mother, Muriel Namok, bade her son farewell with a gentle recollection of his three years surrounded and loved by his three sisters, the “little ducklings”.
Ms Namok was her son’s voice yesterday and told his story as a children’s tale.
“Muriel and her three daughters were excited to learn that they would have a beautiful duckling come into the family,” she said.
The chapel heard of Meeky’s artistic streak and love of Shrek, sour plums and trains.
“He was the one who would always be the monster, who would growl and chase,” Ms Namok said. “Everyone is sad we won’t see him grow up … there will be hard days and days that won’t be so hard.”
She told assembled relatives and friends that Maliq’s niece said her little uncle “is in the sky with lots of lollipops in his mouth with his dad, Father God.
“He is in heaven with his dear family, my true love, my little man, my son,” Ms Namok said.
Maliq was later buried in the Western Children’s Section of the Martyn St Lawn Cemetery in Cairns.
Two daycare workers have been charged with manslaughter after they allegedly forgot to take the little boy out of the minibus on a pick-up to the Goodstart Early Learning centre in Edmonton.
The Cairns Post was granted permission to attend the service.