Child found in critical condition on bus at Le Smileys Early Learning Centre eerily similar to ‘Meeky’ incident

The haunting memories of “Meeky”, who died after being left on a bus while in the care of a Cairns childcare centre, have come rushing back with another toddler fighting for life after an eerily similar incident.

THE HAUNTING memories of three-year-old boy “Meeky”, who died after being left on a bus while in the care of a Cairns child care centre in 2020, have come rushing back after a similar incident in Rockhampton has left a toddler fighting for life.

The family of the deceased Cairns boy have spoken of their “anger” and “disbelief” following reports a girl, Nevaeh, of the same age was found unresponsive and still strapped to a car seat after allegedly being left in a Le Smileys Early Learning Centre van for up to six hours.

The incident has striking similarities to the GoodStart Early Learning Centre tragedy in Cairns, when Maliq Nicholas Lloyd Namok-Malamoo was found dead after being left on a minibus on a hot day.

Muriel Namok (centre), the mother of Maliq Nicholas Floyd Namok-Malamoo, or Meeky as he was affectionately known, who died in Cairns in 2020.

His mum, Muriel Namok, told the Today show she felt “sick to my stomach” when hearing the plight of Gracemere’s Nevaeh yesterday.

“I know this feeling too well,” she said.

“It’s too tragic. Again, why?

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family.”

Police allege a childcare worker preparing to do the afternoon school pick up run made the grim discovery of the “forgotten” Rockhampton girl – believing she remained on the bus from 9am until when she was found shortly before 3pm.

She was rushed to Rockhampton Hospital in a critical condition on Wednesday before being flown to Queensland Children’s Hospital. Nevaeh was on Thursday night said to be improving.

Meeky’s godmother, Rowena Bullio, said she was “in total disbelief” it had happened again just two years on from their torturous experience.

“There is anger, there is anger now,” she said.

Maliq “Meeky” Namok-Malamoo, 3, died after he was left for six hours in a day care centre bus in Cairns.

Federal Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch said it “beggared belief” such an incident could happen again, let alone so close together.

He said adequate protocols must be introduced to prevent further “senseless” tragedies.

“Surely to goodness lessons are learnt from this,” he said.

“It just breaks your heart.

“It should have been learnt the last time, but my goodness they need to make sure it happens this time.

“It is just unacceptable and it is so avoidable with a little bit of care.”

Nevaeh, 3, was left on a bus for more than five hours at a Gracemere childcare centre.

Mr Entsch said the disturbing Rockhampton incident would bring up “heartbreaking memories” for the family of Meeky and many Cairns residents.

“You would have thought the correct protocols would have been put in place to make sure this didn’t happen again and no kid is left behind in these sort of situations,” he said.

“I have to say for whoever was driving that bus, they are going to have to live with this for the rest of their life.

“I don’t know the family but like the little fellow from up here in Cairns, it just brings a tear to your eye.

“This is something that is so, so avoidable.”

No charges have been laid in relation to the a Le Smileys Early Learning Centre event.

Multiple police officers, including officers from the Crime Intelligence Command in the Child Trauma Unit in Brisbane, attended the scene and began investigations which are still continuing.

“We also have photographics and our scientific forensic officers attending the scene, just so we can cover bases and get to the bottom of exactly what has happened,” Capricornia District Detective Inspector Darrin Shadlow

“We will leave no stone unturned.”

The girl’s father, Shane Austin, said she had to undergo a deep brain scan and her kidney was failing as a result of the incident.

“She’s the most loudest little girl they tell me … she’s the heart of the daycare,” he said.

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Originally published as Child found in critical condition on bus at Le Smileys Early Learning Centre eerily similar to ‘Meeky’ incident