Meg Thomas’ father reveals heartbreak after Leeton teen’s suicide

The father of Meg Thomas – a vibrant country girl tormented by bullies – has spoken about his struggle to keep everything together after losing his 13-year-old daughter to suicide.

Every day Leeton man Wayne Thomas jumps in his ute and starts the 40-minute drive to work. And almost every day, he cries.

The maintenance manager at a Riverina poultry business says his time in the car is when he can be alone with his 13-year-old daughter Meg, who suicided October 30, 2018.

The 47-year-old has opened up about how a father keeps it all together – a house, a marriage, three other kids and a full-time job – after losing a child to suicide.

“I pretty much cry every day I go to work,” Mr Thomas said.

“I love driving because that’s when I feel like I am with my daughter.

“That’s what we spent a lot of time doing. We used to drive and talk.”

Wayne and Gin Thomas’ harrowing story has moved hundres of people from around Australia. Picture: Andrew McLean

The Sunday Telegraph last week revealed how the Murrumbidgee Local Health District’s mental health service cancelled Meg’s first psychiatrist appointment two days before she suicided at her family farm in Leeton, near Griffith in the state’s south west.

The error sparked an internal NSW Health investigation which found the cancellation “may have contributed” to her death.

The family believes the area needs more mental health resources.

Gin and Wayne Thomas with Meg.

Meg Thomas was 13 when she suicided.

The Thomas family siblings.

Almost three years on Mr Thomas said he has been struggling with coming to terms with her passing.

He said the day of Meg’s death plays over and over in his mind, especially when he picked his kids up from school.

“I remember looking at the rear vision mirror and seeing Meg put her head on Abbey’s shoulder,” he said.

“I thought she must be tired or whatever but these days, I think she was saying goodbye to her sister.

“She was planning it from when I picked her up at school.”

Wayne and Gin Thomas are calling for more psychiatric support for young people in the area. Picture: Andrew McLean

Mr Thomas said he dropped the kids home but had to take his youngest child, Ella, out for sport.

“I asked Meg if she wanted to come for a drive but he said no, she was sitting up in a bedroom. I told her ‘I love you’ and she said ‘I love you too dad’.”

Meg suicided while her father was out.

“I feel I should have forced her to come for the drive on that day,” he said.

“I should have been a bit more stern and said ‘you can come’.”

Mr Thomas said his family has benefited greatly from counselling, which has taught him “to not hold everything in”.

He said it is key to have one-on-one time with both his wife Gin and kids Josh, 19, Abbey, 18 and Ella, 13.

“Basically all I want to do is be a provider to them,” he said.

“I want to show leadership, show support. And be there as a mate, as a friend. And also be a father when I have to be.

“I want to grow up with them and grow with them. And never take anything for granted.”

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