The world of social media and news articles tend to work
together. Families and social media/media is a struggle for many when their lives are the topic.
What doesn’t work together is
when a link and a news article distresses a family. A grieving family, even though years on, the
grief and despair of such a link causes heartache and pain. WHY? This
is not an attack on the article above but the family have approved this blog
post to help educate on how they are feeling right now. In a few words Hurt and Angry come to mind. Ive spoken with Travis' mother Kirsty. Her favourite photo of her son Travis is above, she wants you all to know who, her Travis is.
The link above is a great article and it has great warrant in
its meaning. After all a child , Travis McCarron,
died at this park and recommendations exist to prevent a death from ccurring again. It’s disappointing that a family is hurting again today. They woke up not expecting such a blow to ones core of their heart.
What erks me more as an advocate for Families who have
suffered a drowning is that at no point did anyone contact the McCarron family
or even Hannah’s Foundation who for years along with the family have advocated
this very subject. How darn rude and disrespectful
to Travis and his family. That is my
opinion and grieving families MUST be respected if you want to hear their
stories. Simply, Trust and honesty isn’t
hard. Is it?
The pain of seeing such an article and then having to see it constantly in your news feed with uneducated comments regarding the subject or the coronial inquest into Travis’ death then to have others just dismiss the message of safety delivered by Coroner Paul McMahon in the first place is tragic. The Foundation along with the family supports Safer Play areas for parks that are in the proximity of water sources. What we don’t support is the unnecessary use of a family’s tragedy for a personal gain, another cause either directed or misdirected in its subject or ill-informed comments towards the family.
The pain of seeing such an article and then having to see it constantly in your news feed with uneducated comments regarding the subject or the coronial inquest into Travis’ death then to have others just dismiss the message of safety delivered by Coroner Paul McMahon in the first place is tragic. The Foundation along with the family supports Safer Play areas for parks that are in the proximity of water sources. What we don’t support is the unnecessary use of a family’s tragedy for a personal gain, another cause either directed or misdirected in its subject or ill-informed comments towards the family.
What may
seem good intentions in an online post or article, today, has caused hurt and
that hurt needs and must be acknowledged.
The frustration also that a campaign that has constantly been advocated by
Travis’ family has often come to silence to due to grief or dealing with levels of governments and the ignorance of “it’s
too hard, or no money”, the list of excuses travels on. It is no wonder so many families struggle to
continue to be advocates when the blockades in front of them debilitate them
physically and emotionally. Travis died,
his inquest is public and his recommendations have been ignored which
infuriates those who have suffered their greatest of losses.
Even after all this time the pain of Travis’ loss is felt by
his family and friends still and each day is as hard as the day before and last
week. Grief is a life long journey. Many families struggle and perhaps an article
could have reached them on a good day?
However to ‘piss off’ a family and make them infuriatingly mad that they
are unable to respond is unjust. To
upset siblings, relatives and friends is another unjust reason to be beefed off
with social media today. I’ve seen and
witnessed families having to be hospitalised due to such shocks without being
forearmed. It’s difficult to talk about
drowning and safety without a ridicule from an uneducated opinion online. Imagine YOUR shock if this was YOUR child,
YOUR family? Respect goes a long way
to reaching the messages of safety and using another childs death to obtain an
outcome. Travis' family have no problem or issue with permission but they are shocked they weren't informed, that's all. Common courtesy was lost today, it created hurt.
Travis’ family support “Safer Play Grounds” after all their son lost his life because of failed duty of care of supervison by his day carer and the failure of a barrier to water. Both would have saved his life. So to make his life and death not be in vain help promote this link to promote the real reasons behind the campaign itself. The truth for Travis needs to be told and promoted always. Please supervise your children around water always, be alert of the environment in new places and especially make sure you have barriers in place to prevent access. In public areas always be alert it only takes seconds to lose a loved one and a lifetime to grieve their loss.
Travis’ family support “Safer Play Grounds” after all their son lost his life because of failed duty of care of supervison by his day carer and the failure of a barrier to water. Both would have saved his life. So to make his life and death not be in vain help promote this link to promote the real reasons behind the campaign itself. The truth for Travis needs to be told and promoted always. Please supervise your children around water always, be alert of the environment in new places and especially make sure you have barriers in place to prevent access. In public areas always be alert it only takes seconds to lose a loved one and a lifetime to grieve their loss.
Please jump online to the causes.com and support the McCarron family and promote "Safer Play Areas for children". https://www.causes.com/causes/266444-travis-mccarron-petition-for-fencing-around-childrens-playgrounds.
For further comment you can contact Hannah's Foundation on 07 5465 2000 or email Katherine@hannahsfoundation.org.au or Twitter: @HFKatPlint
Kat Plint
Founder of Hannah's Foundation
Kat Plint
Founder of Hannah's Foundation
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