St Joseph’s students present rock-throwing victim with Mercy Bears

After a five-year-old boy was injured in a rock-throwing incident on a Cairns train, a group of primary school students decided to make him some gifts to aid his recovery.

Cross-cultural senior police liaison officer Kayko Berry presented a five-year-old boy, who was stuck in the head in an alleged rock-throwing incident on Kuranda Scenic Rail, with two stuffed animals made by St Joseph's Outside Hours School Care. Picture: QPS

After a young boy was injured in an alleged rock-throwing incident on a Cairns train, a group of primary school students decided to gift him a bear to aid in his recovery.

Last month, police and paramedics were called to the Cairns Railway Station at Cairns Central Shopping Centre after a rock was allegedly thrown through a Kuranda Scenic Rail window, hitting a five-year-old boy in the head.

The boy, from Japan, received treatment in Cairns Hospital and Townsville University Hospital.

A group of students from St Joseph’s Outside Hours School Care were discussing the incident with a supervisor when they decided to make him one of the program’s signature Mercy Bears.

OSHC supervisor Sandra Casey said 90 students in the after-school program wanted to help.

Each year, the St Joey’s OSHC students make bears to deliver a warm hug to families in need at Christmas.

“This was a lovely project to oversee, and when the children discovered the young boy had a twin, they duplicated their efforts and made not one but two Mercy Bears, which was delivered along with the card,” Mrs Casey said.

Police officers presented the boy with the gifts.

The young boy has since returned home to Japan with his family.

Four juveniles have been charged over the incident.

Originally published as St Joseph’s students present rock-throwing victim with Mercy Bears