Walking Daniel home on his special day
IT’S the walk Bruce and Denise Morcombe share with the community. It’s the journey their son couldn’t make. The walk follows the same path Daniel walked from Palmwoods to Nambour Connection Road in Woombye, where he waited for the bus to go to Sunshine Plaza before being abducted.
“When we started our Walk for Daniel Day, that was the walk from Palmwoods to Woombye and that was walking Daniel home on the trip that he didn’t make,” said Denise.
The Daniel Morcombe Foundation held the first Walk for Daniel in November 2005, the couple’s objectives being to educate children on child safety and abduction and also to assist young victims of crime.
“This is my favourite day of the year and our Walk is the most memorable event,” said Denise. “Today we wear red in memory of Daniel who, as we know, wore a red t-shirt on that fateful day on the 7th December 2003. Respectfully, around the country the community has never forgotten Daniel.”
It is estimated over 1.3 million people across Australia participated this year. This includes almost 5000 schools and hundreds of businesses, public and private events.
Bruce and Denise were joined by 250 fellow walkers and dignitaries including Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll, Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton, Daniel Morcombe Foundation ambassador Kay McGrath, skating legend Steven Bradbury, Marty Hunt, David Law, Winston Johnston, Ted O’Brien and Jenny Mackay.
Wear Red, Educate and Donate was the theme of Day for Daniel, as the Palmwoods Foundation strives to have schools, early learning centres, businesses and communities across Australia take action and conduct child safety activities in their local communities.
“Day for Daniel is a day where Australia reflects upon the other youngsters who have suffered abuse by the hands of others, acknowledge we can do better and quite frankly, in these challenging times we have to. This year’s motto is: “Keeping Kids Safe Matters,” said Bruce.
Parents, carers, educators can visit the Daniel Morcombe Foundation website for resources and information http://www.danielmorcombe. com.au/