logo
What change must come from these parents' darkest hour

What change must come from these parents' darkest hour

The Age17-05-2025

There are few experiences harder to fathom than a parent losing a child in an unexpected and unexplained way.
In their darkest hour, parents must navigate the coronial system where, for all the care and professionalism they may encounter, they must answer difficult questions and make what must seem like impossible choices. All while their hearts are broken.
As Frances Howe reports today, about 40 per cent of all deaths for people under the age of 20 are listed as unascertained after an autopsy. In more than a quarter of cases (27 per cent), unexplained sudden cardiac deaths in young people involved relevant genetic mutations.
Two such children were Sonny and Airlie Green. Sonny died aged nine months; he carried a rare mutation of a gene known as PPA2, which can cause sudden cardiac death. This was not discovered until after his death, when his sister had become ill at five months old. Airlie had the same mutation and died aged 18 months, leaving parents Danielle and Leon Green crushed.
A year on, Danielle Green is leading the charge to make genetic testing a routine part of all post-mortem examinations in unexplained deaths for everyone aged under 20 years. This is not simply about offering heartbroken parents closure, although Green does wonder how many families 'who are beating themselves up every single day' would find comfort in having an answer to how their little ones died.
The campaign is also about preventing future tragedies. Nearly 90 per cent of couples at risk of having a child with a genetic condition have no prior family history of the disorder.
Professor Gina Ravenscroft, a rare disease genetics expert at the Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research and University of Western Australia, says testing would help enable earlier medical interventions, guide family planning and reduce parents' 'uncertainty and emotional trauma'.
Loading
Genetic testing is not a mandatory component of coronial investigations into unexplained deaths in any Australian state or territory. Each jurisdiction has its own triggers; Ravenscroft recommends a consistent national approach.
NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley says a coroner can order genetic testing based on advice from NSW Health Forensic Medicine, and the government was 'always considering ways the coronial process can be improved to provide answers to grieving families'. This is an idea well worth considering.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Urgent warning over popular garden flower sold at Bunnings
Urgent warning over popular garden flower sold at Bunnings

Perth Now

timean hour ago

  • Perth Now

Urgent warning over popular garden flower sold at Bunnings

An ornamental flowering plant sold at Bunnings and other nurseries has been labelled dangerous to Australia's environment. Gazania daisies, bright coloured flowers native to South Africa, are a 'highly-invasive plant', a new study by La Trobe University said. According to the research, gazania seeds show a high tolerance for a wide range of environmental conditions, enabling them to spread more aggressively and destructively than previously expected. Your local paper, whenever you want it. As a result, researchers warn that the plant could become a problematic weed all year-round across much of Australia, potentially leading to widespread infestations. Gazania has already been found growing in a range of habitats, from coastal sand dunes and stream banks to wastelands, open grasslands, roadsides and cultivated or irrigated sites in southern and parts of Western Australia. 'These preliminary findings suggest this weed has the potential to develop a significant seedbank in Australian no-till grain production systems,' the report said. Invasive Species Council Advocacy manager Imogen Ebsworth has called for a national ban on the plant, expanding from the current restrictions in South Australia. 'Gazanias are the perfect example of an escaped invasive garden plant that needs to be banned from sale,' she said. 'I urge the nursery industry to act on this new evidence and stop selling it. 'Gazanias are not only overrunning native grasslands, coastlines and roadsides — they are moving into grain production areas, choking out crops and costing farmers.' Gazania daisies are bright coloured flowers native to South Africa. Credit: Carlos Tischler / Future Publishing via Getty Image Ebsworth said three-quarters of Australia's listed unstoppable weeds began as ornamental plants, adding that failing to act now would represent a 'regulatory failure'. 'We are calling on governments to take immediate steps to phase out high-risk species like gazania from nurseries and online marketplaces,' she said. Gazanias are sold legally through nurseries and plant retailers in various regions across Australia. Bunnings, one of the retailers stocking the plant, said it has no current plans to stop selling gazanias. 'Like many nurseries and retailers, we sell a wide range of locally-sourced plants across our stores and we work hard to create an assortment that caters to customer preferences and demand,' said Cam Rist, Bunnings Director of Merchandise. 'As always, we closely follow all relevant local biosecurity regulations and the advice of regulators about the plants we sell.' Customers are advised to check the plant label and consider local environmental suitability before purchasing.

Push to ban Gazania daisies after new research finds them harmful to Australian environment
Push to ban Gazania daisies after new research finds them harmful to Australian environment

7NEWS

timean hour ago

  • 7NEWS

Push to ban Gazania daisies after new research finds them harmful to Australian environment

An ornamental flowering plant sold at Bunnings and other nurseries has been labelled dangerous to Australia's environment. Gazania daisies, bright coloured flowers native to South Africa, are a 'highly-invasive plant', a new study by La Trobe University said. According to the research, gazania seeds show a high tolerance for a wide range of environmental conditions, enabling them to spread more aggressively and destructively than previously expected. As a result, researchers warn that the plant could become a problematic weed all year-round across much of Australia, potentially leading to widespread infestations. Gazania has already been found growing in a range of habitats, from coastal sand dunes and stream banks to wastelands, open grasslands, roadsides and cultivated or irrigated sites in southern and parts of Western Australia. 'These preliminary findings suggest this weed has the potential to develop a significant seedbank in Australian no-till grain production systems,' the report said. Invasive Species Council Advocacy manager Imogen Ebsworth has called for a national ban on the plant, expanding from the current restrictions in South Australia. 'Gazanias are the perfect example of an escaped invasive garden plant that needs to be banned from sale,' she said. 'I urge the nursery industry to act on this new evidence and stop selling it. 'Gazanias are not only overrunning native grasslands, coastlines and roadsides — they are moving into grain production areas, choking out crops and costing farmers.' Ebsworth said three-quarters of Australia's listed unstoppable weeds began as ornamental plants, adding that failing to act now would represent a 'regulatory failure'. 'We are calling on governments to take immediate steps to phase out high-risk species like gazania from nurseries and online marketplaces,' she said. Gazanias are sold legally through nurseries and plant retailers in various regions across Australia. Bunnings, one of the retailers stocking the plant, said it has no current plans to stop selling gazanias. 'Like many nurseries and retailers, we sell a wide range of locally-sourced plants across our stores and we work hard to create an assortment that caters to customer preferences and demand,' said Cam Rist, Bunnings Director of Merchandise. 'As always, we closely follow all relevant local biosecurity regulations and the advice of regulators about the plants we sell.'

Seven in 10 Aussies admit to faking sickie in past year
Seven in 10 Aussies admit to faking sickie in past year

West Australian

time2 hours ago

  • West Australian

Seven in 10 Aussies admit to faking sickie in past year

Seventy per cent of Australians faked a sick day at work in the past year when they were not actually unwell, a new study has found It was estimated sickies cost Australian businesses $7.3bn a year in lost productivity and 24.6 million days off. The study conducted by iSelect found the most common reasons people took a sick day were a lack of sleep, to relax and recharge, mental health or personal issues to deal with family, or relationship problems. The health insurance comparison service found when mental health issues were counted as personal leave, 68 per cent of Australians still admitted to taking a fake sick day. The highest proportion of people pulling a sickie were workers aged 25 to 34 (84.5 per cent). The most significant difference between men and women surveyed was that 26.6 per cent of women used a sick day for a mental health day compared with 19.5 per cent of men. Men 12.9 (per cent) were more likely to take a sick day because they were hungover compared with women (8.5 per cent), but twice as many women (20 per cent) were more likely to take the day off to care for children than men. Other excuses revealed some workers took sick days to attend a special event or they just wanted the day off for general leisure. Others avoided meetings or did not want to go to work because it was raining. iSelect general manager of health Andres Gutierrez said the research found it was very common for Australians to take a sickie at least once a year despite not being physically ill. 'A lack of sleep, wanting to relax and recharge, and mental health are the top three reasons, highlighting how some Australians might choose to prioritise self-care,' he said. 'If you're finding it tough to get a good night's sleep or you're dealing with mental health challenges, it's important to reach out for support.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store