Sunshine Coasters remember missing boy
Tue 16 May 2006
Suzette Laufer, Journalism
Denise Morcombe’s determination to keep the memory of missing son Daniel in the public eye is etched amidst the grief in her stunning blue eyes.
It is now two years and five months since Daniel was mysteriously taken while waiting for a bus to go Christmas shopping.
Denise’s fight to keep Daniel’s disappearance in the public spotlight continues to inspire awe from locals. As director, secretary, chairperson, public relations officer and more for the Daniel Morcombe Foundation, Denise explains that there is no time for getting sick.
The Sunshine Coast has been passionate in its support of Daniel’s cause, with locals and businesses jumping at the chance to support the family.
“We even had rival bikey gangs decide to ride together for charity for the long weekend in June to help raise money. We’ve got the right sort of people on our side,” Mrs Morcombe said.
The ‘Day for Daniel’ and dinner dance at Twin Waters raised a staggering $60,000.
Of that, $25,000 of that amount goes toward ‘Operation Argos’. This money helps support the medical and counselling costs of children who have been the victims of abuse.
The Morcombe's will never forget the day Daniel went missing. At about 4:15 pm on a Sunday in December 2003 Denise Morcombe was hanging out the washing at their family property on the Sunshine Coast when she inexplicably “felt something”.
Her thoughts immediately turned to Daniel.
Though he was not expected home yet Denise followed her instincts and drove down to the bus stop. It wasn’t unusual for him to catch the 5pm bus so she waited a while longer and then drove home. She asked her husband Bruce to check the timetable just to be sure.
At about 5:15pm they both drove to the bus stop. There was no sign of Daniel. He had no mobile phone and no way of contacting them.
Asked when was the first time she realised she may never see her boy again Denise answers “that night”.
Searches and investigations have been exhaustive but with no witnesses, no clothes and no clues there has been little headway. The door to Daniels bedroom remains closed. His clothes are packed away.
Many of his posters and school books were taken by police for fingerprinting. Painful reminders for the family are constant. Daniel’s surviving twin brother, Bradley, now celebrates the boys’ birthday alone with the family.
The Morcombe’s eldest son, Dean, recently celebrated his 18th birthday and came home proudly displaying tattoos of Daniel “all the way up his arm”.
Daniel used to go motorbike riding with Dean but now Bradley dons Daniel’s riding gear and “looks after his bike for him”.
“They go off together, I guess it helps them cope in their own way,” Mrs Morcombe said.
Denise’s eyes glaze over as she recalls looking outside with a shock to see Bradley dressed head to toe in Daniel’s motorbike gear. Then she had to stop and remind herself that it wasn’t Daniel.
From the depths of their despair the Morcombe’s have created a dramatic ripple effect of awareness that will save many children from a similar fate.
Police continue to unmask perpetrators, and legislation has now been enforced in relation to child pornography.
Daniel’s light has served a greater purpose by forcing the previously hidden darkness of paedophilia into the limelight.
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I'm looking for Suzette Laufer or actually Murray Laufer: please contact me if you get this email: agcorbett@ozemail.com.au
Andrew Corbett