‘THEY’LL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN’
DEVONPORT’S LOCAL COMMUNITY CONTINUES TO RALLY AROUND THE FAMILIES OF THE YOUNG VICTIMS
There’s been too many tears shed to count in Devonport over the past couple of weeks, as residents of the Tasmanian seaside city continue to reel from the jumping castle tragedy that has claimed six young lives.
An end-of-year celebration at Hillcrest Primary School on December 16 turned fatal when a freak gust of wind picked up a jumping castle that nine children were playing on and sent it flying through the air. The terrified Year 5 and 6 pupils fell from a height of around 10 metres.
The deceased have been identified as Addison Stewart and Chace Harrison, both 11, Jye Sheehan, Zane Mellor, Jalailah Jayne-maree Jones and Peter Dodt, all aged 12.
At the time New Idea went to print, two children remained in hospital in critical condition and another was recovering at home. Police estimated up to 40 other pupils witnessed the horrifying event.
Devonport Mayor Annette Rockliff tells New Idea the heartbreaking incident, only days before Christmas, has shattered the community.
“There are so many people who are hurting at the moment,” Ms Rockliff says.
“We are a fairly small regional centre, and there are connections everywhere. Everyone is affected in some way or has a link to someone involved. It’s something we’re all still trying to process.”
Ms Rockliff reveals while she didn’t know any of the victims personally, she had been with them in their classroom only a matter of weeks before the tragedy, giving an address about what local government does.
“They invited me to come in for a talk as they were learning about government, and I spent about an hour and a half with them,” she recalls. “Looking back, it was a privilege I really appreciate now.”
When she later saw pictures of the six victims, Ms Rockliff recognised some of the faces from that day in the classroom.
“They all were familiar, they were all beautiful faces,” she concludes.
In the days after the tragedy, a memorial set up on the school lawn was quickly covered in flowers, toys and special notes in tribute. Some of the parents whose children had been killed visited to express their grief.
Georgina Gardam, the mother of Zane, clutched a shirt belonging to her son as she spoke of her loss.
“I just needed to say goodbye to my baby,” she told reporters. “He was loud and proud. I over-spoilt him, but I’m glad I did.
“I just needed to see what everyone’s done, and I appreciate it so much. But nothing brings my baby home.”
Rihanna Goodson, the mother of Jalailah Jayne-maree, described her daughter as “a beautiful, young, unique girl. She was really one of a kind”.
Investigations have begun into how the jumping castle was able to lift off the ground.
“There’s a lot of pieces of this investigation that need to be pulled together,” Tasmanian Police Commissioner Darren Hine said. “We don’t want to rush it, but we also understand the community wants answers.”
Almost $1.5 million has been raised in a Gofundme online campaign to support the affected families and local community. Mayor Rockliff hopes some healing can now begin within her wounded town.
“For all those who have been affected, all we can do is love and support them,” she says. “These are very deep wounds that won’t go away in a hurry, but we’ll do our best to help them get through.”