Parliamentary Speeches
Death of Jai Morcom (08/09/2009)
Mr DONALD PAGE (Ballina) [1.41 p.m.]: Last Saturday I attended the memorial service for Jai Morcom in Mullumbimby. Jai was the 15-year-old schoolboy who died from head injuries as a result of schoolyard violence at Mullumbimby High School on Friday 28 August. The memorial service was a day to celebrate Jai's short life, and a day when we offered our sympathy and support to Jai's family and friends. Hundreds of mainly local people—perhaps a thousand—attended the memorial service, which was held at Heritage Park in Mullumbimby. It was a very moving and emotional service. It was a time to grieve for a lost son, a brother, a friend. It was also a time to reflect on the joy and happiness Jai brought to others in his 15 short years. Jai's death has shocked a school, a local community, a State and a nation.
Last week in this House I expressed our sympathy and support for Jai's mother, Kim Morcom, father, Steve Drummond, brother, Mayo, and sisters Kyra and Jade. I also expressed our sympathy and support for Jai's friends, the whole school community and the community of Mullumbimby. I wanted to show my personal support and sympathy for Jai's family and friends by attending the memorial service last Saturday. I also wanted to let the people of Mullumbimby know that the wider community I represent was also feeling the pain of Jai's tragic death. I have received condolences and support from people all over the North Coast and across the State. Many of my parliamentary colleagues of all persuasions have taken time out to express their sympathy and offer support. Many people who were not able to attend the service in person last Saturday were there in spirit.
The service began with an Aboriginal ceremony to smoke out the evil spirits. Jai had a Maori heritage, so some New Zealand family members performed a haka. The service had many emotional and gut-wrenching periods, none more than when Jai's sister Kyra spoke and his five longstanding school friends recalled their experiences with Jai. Jai was obviously quite a character. We heard what a considerate, funny, quirky and friendly character he was. He loved his music and there were two very powerful musical tributes to Jai, which affected everyone deeply.
We all know there is no place in our schools for physical violence. Schools should be safe places for all students and staff. However, if we simply seek to blame the school for Jai's passing we would be compounding the tragedy of Jai's death. Mullumbimby High School is a good school whose students achieve very good results in the Higher School Certificate, especially in music and drama. Equally, however, we would not do justice to Jai and his family if we did not ask whether this tragedy could have been prevented. Are there important lessons to be drawn from this tragic event? Yes there are, but last Saturday was not the day for that discussion. Saturday was a day to celebrate Jai's life, to grieve at his untimely passing, and to support his family and friends at this difficult time. It was also a day to re-affirm our commitment to peace and to the peaceful resolution of conflict. We may not be able to resolve longstanding international conflict peacefully but we should be able to do this at least in our local communities. If we want them to be, our communities can be better and more peaceful places. Perhaps that is the real legacy that Jai leaves for us: A commitment to a peaceful resolution of conflict to ensure this type of thing never happens again.
I thank the Minister for Education and Training for supporting Mullumbimby High School by making available nine student counsellors, three additional casual teachers and an additional deputy principal who will not be required to teach. This support will be available to members of the school community for as long as they feel they need it. I also thank Greg Cloak, the School Superintendent, for keeping me briefed on initiatives being taken at the school since the tragedy. I offer my support to all teachers and staff at the school as well as the students, who are so clearly devastated by what has happened.
Last week I had the opportunity to speak with the Minister for Education and Training, and the shadow Minister for Education about the tragedy, and in particular about giving students greater involvement in developing a school code of conduct. If students have a sense of ownership of a school's code of conduct, they are much more likely to abide by it and to enforce it themselves. I understand that in Western Australia and Tasmania the students have a big say in the development of a school's code of conduct. This has been very helpful in reducing conflict and violence at schools in those States. I understand that in Tasmania 12 students, along with teachers, help to enforce the school's code of conduct.
I mentioned earlier that Jai's legacy could be to ensure that future conflict is resolved in a peaceful manner. Last Saturday the display of mourners dressed in brightly coloured clothing, the multicoloured balloons and the doves that were released at the conclusion of the service were symbolic of Jai's legacy. The family and the Mullumbimby community are in mourning, but they are clearly resolved to spread the spirit of peace and put behind them the tragic events that led to the loss of Jai's precious life. There is no question that the lessons learned will last a lifetime for all who have been close to this tragedy.
