Little Slater funeral plea
THE family of a six-year-old Labrador boy who died of brain cancer are pleading with the chief health officer to let them extend the funeral capacity limit from 20 people to 50.
Slater Clifton-Walker died on Wednesday morning after years of fighting an aggressive brain cancer.
The brave little boy stole the hearts of Gold Coasters and people around the world after his family shared his tragic health battle.
Musgrave Hill State School threw the youngster a Hero Day for Slater in May to honour the Gold Coaster’s incredible resilience and to raise money for brain cancer research.
Also throwing their weight behind the cause were ironmen Ali Day and Matt Poole, ironwoman Georgia Miller, Olympic swimmer James Roberts and sprinter Bree Masters.
Funerals are capped at 20 people under Covid restrictions. Slater’s funeral is expected to be held in the coming days.
Bonney MP Sam O’Connor has written to chief health of ficer Jeannette Young on behalf of the family requesting an exemption to allow a ticketed event with a 50-person capacity.
Slater’s mum Bianca Walker said she would be devastated if an exemption was not granted.
“It would break my heart,” Ms Walker said.
“We’re not asking for a large exemption or for people to cross the border from lockdown zones or anything. It’s just to be able to have the family and close friends we have here on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane with us on such a sad day.
“I fully respect that other families have been denied exemptions and I in no way wish to upset anyone.
“I have respect for the rules and understand that not everybody can receive an exemption.”
Mr O’Connor’s letter stated the family would do whatever it takes to make Slater’s farewell “less stressful and heartbreaking”. “I understand restrictions are necessary, particularly as we battle this Delta variant, however when larger religious services can take place in similar venues, cinemas are open and tens of thousands can attend stadiums, I struggle to understand why a funeral cannot have 50 attendees,” he wrote.
A Queensland Health spokeswoman expressed their condolences to Slater’s family and friends.
“The current restrictions across southeast Queensland are in place until August 22 at this stage, and are for the protection of Queenslanders. Funerals are restricted to 20 people,” she said. “Hundreds of people are in home quarantine, testing positive on day 10 and 11.
“If a person attends a funeral on day eight of the 14-day incubation period, only to test positive on day 12, then the impact could be significant for the community.”