Anthony Albanese delivers speech at Abdallahs’ i4Give Festival

It was a day full of love and emotion as hundreds flocked to Parramatta for the first i4Give Festival, set up in honour of the four children who were killed in a nightmare crash in Western Sydney three years ago.

The family of four children who were killed in a nightmare crash in western Sydney three years ago have honoured their children in a new event.

Antony, Angelina and Sienna Abdallah and Veronique Sakr’s lives were taken suddenly in 2020 when a drunk driver veered onto a footpath as the children walked to buy ice cream.

Their mum, Leila Abdallah beamed with pride and said she was “so happy” to see her vision finally come to life after the Covid-19 pandemic delayed her plans for the i4Give festival to take place in Prince Alfred Square in Parramatta.

“This is the park where I used to come all the time with my children,” she said on Saturday.

“Although Antony, Angelina, Sienna and Veronique are not present in body, but believe me they are present in their spirit.”

The Abdallah family with PM Anthony Albanese at the first annual i4Give festival in Parramatta. Picture: NCA NewsWire/David Swift

Leila Abdallah (right, pictured with her husband Danny) gives a speech at the i4Give festival. Picture: NCA NewsWire/David Swift

Ms Abdallah shocked Australia when she forgave the driver who killed her three children and niece just days after their shocking deaths.

Hundreds poured into the park as three of the Abdallah children - Liana, Alex and Michael - offered up heartfelt prayers to their lost siblings.

The couple’s youngest child Selina — a mixture of Angelina and Sienna’s names — was passed around between family members during the ceremony.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Labor opposition leader Chris Minns were in attendance. Picture: NCA NewsWire/David Swift

Veronique’s father, Bob Sakr was emotional as he said there wasn’t “anything in the world” he wouldn’t offer to give his daughter one last hug.

“When I heard Leila say she forgave [the driver], that wasn’t going through my head,” Mr Sakr said.

“But then very quickly I realised I was only burdening myself.”

A cake was wheeled out at the end of the ceremony for Mabelle Kassas, the 13-year-old survivor of the crash whose birthday party had brought the families' together that night.

“In the blink of an eye a beautiful moment turned into the worst moment of my life,” she said between tears.

“I will never forget being there and feeling helpless, as much as I tried to help I couldn’t.

“I struggled so much to forgive myself let alone to forgive the driver.”

Ms Abdullah with her husband at the i4Give festival on Saturday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

The i4Give day foundation was set up by the Abdallah family in the wake of their children’s deaths, with its mission statement aiming to “increase community awareness of the power of forgiveness to transform human relationships and to provide resilience toward human flourishing”.

The festival is due to become an annual event filled with amusement rides, live performances, and an outdoor movie showing to cap off the day.

Former prime minister Scott Morrison and his wife Jenny were there in support of the family who they became close with after the tragedy occurred during his term of leadership.

Dressed far more casually than the other politicians in attendance – in blue jeans, sneakers and a baseball cap – he marvelled at the family’s ability to forgive unconditionally the person responsible for their children’s deaths.

“People ask me often, ‘How did they do that?’,” Mr Morrison said.

“I couldn’t imagine that faced with something like that I could have turned up at that site like Leila did and just say immediately, ‘I forgive’.”

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and opposition leader Chris Minns were also in attendance at the festival.

Premier Dominic Perrottet (left) said he could not imagine the loss the family has gone through. Picture: NCA NewsWire/David Swift

Mr Albanese paid tribute to the young children whose lives were “cruelly snatched” from the world.

“Their bright, beautiful lives, full of promise and possibility, brought to a sudden and a tragic end,” Mr Albanese told the crowd.

“We remember today all the joy and laughter they brought into the lives of those who knew and loved them. The pride. The delight that comes with a child.

“And we embrace in our hearts those still living with the pain and loss. Theirs is a grief that may soften with time, but it will never truly fade.

“Yet in the midst of this sadness, there is something quite beautiful here today as well – and so powerful.”

PROMOTING FORGIVENESS

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese addressed this year’s i4Give festival in Parramatta on Saturday, saying that while the grief from the deaths of the children in whose honour it was created “may soften with time … it will never truly fade”.

The i4Give day and foundation were created in 2021 by Danny and Leila Abdallah to remember their three children Sienna, Antony and Angelina, as well as their cousin Veronique Sakr, who were killed by a drunk driver in February 2020 as they walked to the shop to buy ice creams.

The foundation aims to promote forgiveness by encouraging everyone to search their hearts and find someone to forgive on February 1 each year, the anniversary of the children’s deaths.

Samuel William Davidson was originally given a non-parole period of 21 years after pleading guilty to four counts of manslaughter over their deaths, which was later cut to 15 years on appeal.

Mr Albanese praised the festival for bringing together “family and community – joined in sorrow and grief, united by love and hope”.

Danny and Leila Abdallah with Lan, 13, Alex, 8, Michael, 6, and Selina, 10 months, holding a picture of Anthony, 13, Angelina, 12, and Sienna, 8. Picture: Julian Andrews

The PM said it was a day to remember “all the joy and laughter they brought into the lives of those who knew and loved them” as well as the pride and the delight.

In his speech the PM said while grief can never truly pass, in the midst of this sadness, there is something quite powerful.

“Danny and Leila Abdallah have done something quite extraordinary,” Mr Albanese said.

“They have chosen to forgive.

“Instead of raging at the injustice of their loss, they found the strength, the courage and, above all, the humanity to choose a path of grace.”

Mr Albanese said the Abdallahs’ story and example had helped people look into their hearts and find forgiveness and that they represent “the best of Australia”.

The Abdallahs were last year invited by Pope Francis to address The World Meeting of Families in the Vatican.

“Their story of forgiveness is straight from the heart of their Catholic faith,” Mr Albanese will say.

“A faith that says: Love your enemies … forgive others as you have been forgiven.

“Thank you, Danny and Leila, and Liana, Alex, Michael, and baby Selina, for sharing this day with us.

“For sharing your story, and with it, your sorrow and your joy, your grace and courage.”

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Originally published as Anthony Albanese delivers speech at Abdallahs’ i4Give Festival