Port Lincoln wharf tragedy: Grieving mother’s new happiness revealed
A GRIEVING mother who lost her two sons and husband in a Port Lincoln wharf murder-suicide has found happiness again through the birth a beautiful daughter with a new partner.
- Melissa Little thanks public for support
- Extraordinary courage in rebuilding life
- Family of Damien Little urge people struggling to seek help
- Melissa’s book distributed to SA schools
A GRIEVING mother who lost her two sons and husband in a Port Lincoln wharf murder-suicide has found happiness again through the birth of a beautiful daughter with her new partner.
Melissa Little, 32, has fought unimaginable sadness since her husband of almost 10 years – Damien, 34 – and their two sons – Koda James, 4, and nine-month-old baby Hunter Tex – died in 2016.
But in an extraordinary turn of events, the early childhood teacher today reveals how she is rebuilding her life with a new partner, Lachlan Napier, and four month-old baby Lola.
In a television interview to be broadcast on Sunday night on Channel 10, she tells The Sunday Project’s Lisa Wilkinson how love suddenly blossomed out of the blue.
“I didn’t know that I was ready to trust again, or ready to even find love, but … it might sound clichéd, but when the right person comes along, you just know,” she says.
“To fall pregnant straight away and have a beautiful young girl, a little sister to my sons, it’s something we both knew that we wanted.
“I will continue to survive. I will continue to honour the memory and lives of my two precious boys but I will also enjoy the moments with Lachy and Lola.”
Showing remarkable courage, she has returned to work, twice walked the Kokoda Track, and written and illustrated a deeply personal children’s book on grief, while maintaining a fierce family loyalty and unending love.
Her book, titled Yesterday You Were Here, will be published next month and distributed throughout South Australian schools after the Education Department spent $10,000 buying more than 600 copies.
Having met Mr Napier while training for True Grit, a military inspired obstacle course event, they travelled to Papua New Guinea last year to walk the Track while carrying two teddies that represented her two boys’ spirit.
Asked to explain his partner’s strength and resilience, retail worker Mr Napier replies: “Words just cannot describe it.”
In a tragedy that shattered the Eyre Peninsula community, Mr Little – a hardworking labourer, successful football player and coach known as “Damo” – shot his boys before driving the family’s Ford station wagon off Brennan’s Wharf.
His car was travelling at up to 80km/h when it plunged into Boston Bay just before 6am on January 4, 2016.
While at pains to not excuse Little’s actions – the circumstances of which police investigated for the State Coroner – his Port Lincoln-based family have publicly urged others to seek professional help for overwhelming emotions.
Education Department Early Years and Child Development executive director Ann-Marie Hayes said the book was a welcome addition to State Government early learning centres.
“It will serve as a useful resource to help parents and carers talk to young children in an age-appropriate way about grief,” she said.
Tune in to The Sunday Project for Lisa Wilkinson’s exclusive chat with Melissa Little, Sunday at 6.30pm on Ten
