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Safety Circus visited Mackay schools, using music and education to help Year 2 students recognise unsafe situations and feel confident speaking up. Photo source: Nigel Dalton MP
A splash of red was seen across Mackay last Friday 30th October, as schools and members of the community joined a nationwide show of support for Day for Daniel, remembering a young life lost too soon while renewing an important conversation about child safety.
More than two decades after 13-year-old Daniel Morcombe disappeared from Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, his story continues to resonate with families across the country, including here in the Mackay region.
Daniel was living with his parents and brothers in Palmwoods when he went missing on Sunday, December 7th 2003. He had been on his way to buy Christmas presents for his family and was last seen wearing a red T-shirt while waiting for a bus. Following years of searching and an extensive undercover police investigation, Daniel was found deceased in 2011.
In the wake of his disappearance, Daniel’s parents, Bruce and Denise, established the Daniel Morcombe Foundation, turning their family's devastating experience into a legacy of child safety education.
The red T-shirt Daniel wore that day has since become a recognised symbol of the cause each year, with Day for Daniel held annually on the last Friday of October. The initiative encourages Australians to wear red, remember Daniel and help equip children with the knowledge to recognise unsafe situations and speak up.
Across Mackay, schools took part in this year's event, with students and teachers wearing red to show their support and help keep the message front of mind for another generation.
Member for Mackay Nigel Dalton also spoke to the importance of education and community initiatives in helping children understand how to stay safe, including the Safety Circus program which visits Mackay schools.
“Through initiatives like Safety Circus, children are empowered with the knowledge and confidence to recognise unsafe situations and speak up when something doesn't feel right,” Mr Dalton said.
“Daniel's legacy has helped educate generations of young Queenslanders and reminds us that keeping children safe is a responsibility we all share.
“With the next Safety Circus school tour kicking off, that important message will continue reaching students across our region.”
Safety Circus is a 45-minute children's musical addressing a range of safety issues, helping young students build confidence in recognising unsafe situations and knowing when to speak up.
CQUniversity partners with the Daniel Morcombe Foundation to bring the award-winning production to Year 2 classes in primary schools each year. Having already visited a number of schools, the next tour will continue taking that message into classrooms across the Mackay region.
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