Widow of Wynnum West’s Michael Warburton on reducing QLD’s youth crime

The widow of a Brisbane man killed in a hit and run has asked what it will take for youth crime to be curbed as memorial plans for scooter crash victim revealed.

Anita Warburton, wife of Michael Warburton who was killed in a hit and run while riding a scooter. Picture: Steve Pohlner

The widow of a Brisbane father who was killed in a hit and run while riding his scooter home last year has asked what it would take for youth crime in Queensland to be tapered as special memorial plans for her husband are revealed.

Beloved Wynnum West man Michael Warburton, 59, was killed when two teens allegedly mowed him down in a stolen car on Kianawah Rd on September 26, 2022.

A special memorial for the popular baysider will be placed at the Wynnum Foreshore with the Brisbane City Council to plant a large north fork pine tree to be planted at the esplanade’s whale park in memory of Mr Warburton.

The tree will also feature a memorial stone with a plaque – all approved by the heritage council as the waterfront is heritage listed.

“This means a lot to me and my family that there’s going to be a permanent memorial in place for Michael in our local community, knowing how much he loved the area and Wynnum by the whale park is a happy place for all us, including friends and family,” Mr Warburton’s widow, Anita, said.

Michael Warburton, who was killed in a hit and run while riding a scooter in September last year.

“He loved to do his fitness by the bay, hanging out with friends, drinking coffee, having a barbecue or just enjoying life.

“It just makes us feel he was such a special person to the community.

Anita Warburton, wife of Michael Warburton who was killed in a hit and run while riding a scooter in September last year sitting in a memorial garden with Michaels ashes interned in a rock. Picture: Steve Pohlner

“His mind would be blown if he knew so much fuss was being made over him, an average local person of the community.”

But as the Warburton family continues to try and recover from the horrific ordeal, youth crime continues to plague the state after three females, including a nurse, were killed in a horror crash in Maryborough overnight allegedly involving a stolen car driven by a 13-year-old boy.

Mrs Warburton said what would it take for the issue to be tackled with more ferocity before more people were killed.

“As the youth crime goes, I really don’t think it’s going to change until something happens to someone that’s more important than the average family,” she said.

“I think it will just keep going on and on, which makes me angry and sad at the same time.

“Everything just takes way too long due to red tape and getting things in place in order to get it sorted.

“As a family we still haven’t heard a word on what happened to the youths that were involved in Michael’s death, which I think would help us all a little with the healing if we knew there were some consequences.”

Mrs Warburton said her family was doing their best to go on with life and there was no specific date yet for her husband’s memorial tree to be planted.