Parents pushing for change
The grieving parents of a teenager who died during a Dunedin flat party say they’ve never been angry about what happened, but do want to see change.
Sophia Crestani, 19, was killed in a stairway pile-up during a party attended by hundreds of revellers at a Dundas St flat known as The Manor on October 5 last year.
‘‘She was larger than life,’’ Elspeth McMillan said of her daughter. ‘‘She was joyful, creative, she always lit up any room she walked into, so she’s a big loss, not just for us, but for everyone.’’
The circumstances around Sophia’s death had been ‘‘totally devastating’’ for her family and wider community, McMillan said.
Bede Crestani said they had never been angry. Their daughter made her own decisions.
‘‘But we do want to see change, and we want to do whatever we can do to support change.’’
McMillan said she had wanted her daughter to go to Canterbury University, but she had her heart set on Dunedin.
‘‘She wanted to live the Otago experience, and she loved it.’’
The Wellington-based parents were in Dunedin last night to launch The Sophia Charter.
‘‘We didn’t want her death to be in vain. It was a tragic accident, and we thought we had to have something positive come out of it,’’ Bede Crestani said.
They spoke to a large number of students about their experience, and reminded them about the importance of keeping themselves, their friends and others in the community safe.
‘‘Just take that time to think . . . assess the situation, and get out if they need to.’’
Under the charter, police will work closely with the University of Otago to crack down on large parties, the university will work with local and central government to reduce alcohol harm, and stakeholders will meet regularly to discuss student safety and wellbeing.
The city council will also work to reduce rubbish in the area, after Sophia’s family called for a mass cleanup of the student quarter.
An investigation into her death is before the coroner.