Family mourning loss of ‘wonderful mother’
Julie Tutak of Peterborough was visiting Australia
Kayla Baddeley will miss many things about her mom, but no longer having her emotional support will leave the biggest void.
“She always made me feel really important,” the 16-year-old said Tuesday as her family struggled to come to grips with the loss of Julie Tutak, a Peterborough personal support worker who died late last week in the surf of Australia’s Sunshine Coast.
The 38-year-old was a “wonderful, wonderful mother” to their two kids – including son Kurtis, 12 – as well as their many friends, said ex-husband Travis Baddeley. Her west-end home was always a popular gathering place.
“They all flocked to Julie for support and advice,” he said, adding how her children, parents and brother were paramount. “Family was the most important thing to her.”
The reality of the tragedy still really hasn’t sunk in, said Baddeley, who remained close with Tutak since they separated nine years ago.
The family is still trying to come together and her body, which remains halfway around the world, must be brought home before they can say goodbye.
“Words don’t even describe,” said Baddely.
Kayla, a Grade 10 student at Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School, called her mom a beautiful, caring, loving and “extremely funny” person.
Shopping was “her favourite thing to do,” not to mention “anything to do with the water,” she said, adding how she loved boat-
ing and waterskiing, for example. “She loved the water.”
Tutak cared for more than just her family. She had a special way with her elderly patients at a city-owned long-term care home, Baddeley said. “I always admired that. She has a special touch.”
His daughter agreed. “They loved her so much.”
Fairhaven officials were unable to comment Tuesday, citing privacy legislation.
Mourners expressed them local selves on Facebook as they learned of the tragedy Tuesday.
“A beautiful soul … a true friend … an amazing mother … a great daughter … taken too soon … our heads cannot wrap around your sudden passing. I pray your wings shine bright and wrap around tight the shoulders and hearts that are so heavy tonight,” one woman wrote.
The bodies of Tutak and Kurt Butler, 39, of nearby Pelican Waters, were found at about 8 a.m. local time Saturday on a remote beach by a passer-by inspecting turtle nests on the thin northern tip of Bribie Island, according to news reports.
Police ruled the tourist and the mine worker died in non-suspicious circumstances earlier this week after post-mortem examinations were conducted. They were wearing swimwear, but not lifejackets, investigators reported.
The bodies, which investigators said had been in the water for up to 24 hours, were found on the ocean side of the island north of Brisbane.
A jet ski registered to Butler was found near calmer waters nearby.
Residents have told police it’s common for people to park their jet skis or boats on the calmer side of the spit of land and walk across to the open side to swim in the surf, the Brisbane Times reported.
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