‘It’s not right for parents to bury their children’
HEARTBROKEN MUM'S MESSAGE
THE heartbroken mother of a teenager who died suddenly last month has declared our community can’t lose any more precious kids to suicide.
Ocean Grove’s Louie Shearman — a loyal and loving boy brimming with musical talent — died on April 26, aged just 16.
The Geelong Advertiser knows of two other teenage boys from different Geelong schools who also tragically died by suicide earlier this year.
At Louie’s funeral last week, his mum Ange told loved ones it was not right that parents bury their children.
“I don’t want to be the one saying it,” she said. “But I am.
“This is real and this is permanent.”
Ms Shearman said she believed vulnerability was power.
“It’s a bigger conversation we need to be having,” she said.
She said her son was smart and could share his feelings.
“He was beautifully emotionally connected, maybe too much, if that’s a thing,” she said.
“He was deep and fast and passionate, and close to his family and friends.”
Lives have been shattered by the loss of Louie, his mum said. “We are in a living hell; we are broken, our family will be forever changed,” she said.
“This situation could be anyone at any time, this situation does not choose a type.”
There were no clear answers about the tragedy, she said.
Louie was in Year 11, and a much loved mate, big brother and son. He was in a band, Good Sniff, with mates Elias Hodson and Lachie Brown, which formed last year.
The first time Elias and Lachie performed without their frontman Louie was at his funeral, where they performed a tribute song.
After they learnt of Louie’s death, the pair got together and jammed, and ended up writing, Louie the Milk Man, with the title referencing his love of drinking milk.
“Trying to find the right words and lyrics was the hardest bit,” Lachie said.
“The lead up to playing was a bit hard, we’d never done a performance without Louie,” Elias said. “As soon as we started playing it felt like he was there.”
This week the track gained national attention, when it was featured on Triple J as part of
“Requestival” on Tuesday morning, one month on from Louie’s death.
The station had received multiple requests to air the ode to Louie.
It has been listened to more than 10,000 times since and is available on Spotify.
Elias, 16, went to primary school with Louie, and they later attended Bellarine Secondary College together.
“Louie was a good bloke,” Elias said.
He was energetic, and “very, very musically talented”.
Lachie remembered Louie as a “very loving friend”.
“He’d always have your back,” he said. “Losing your best mate is something no one wants to happen.
“It’s starting to sink in. “I know he’s looking over us and is super proud. It’s nice knowing we have lots and lots of people supporting us.”
If you or a loved one needs help:
Lifeline 13 11 14
Geelong headspace centre 5222 6690, 1800 650 890 Jigsaw Triage 1300 094 187 Bellarine Community health 5253 0400
KidsHelpline 1800 55 1800 Or visit a GP or hospital.