Beasley family setup foundation in Jack’s memory
The heartbroken family and friends of Gold Coast teen Jack Beasley have created a foundation to campaign for important changes they hope will save another family from the same grief.
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FAMILY and friends of dead Gold Coast teen Jack Beasley have created a foundation to campaign for change in youth justice and educate teens about knife violence.
The Jack Beasley Foundation has been set up in honour of the teen who was stabbed to death in Surfers Paradise about 8pm on December 13.
The family hope to model their foundation around what Bruce and Denise Morcombe have done in the years after Daniel’s abduction and death.
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And it already has gained the support of a mother who also lost her 17-year-old son in a recent knife attack.
Police allege five teens – aged 18, 17, 15 and two 16-year-olds – exchanged words with Jack and another teenager before returning to rob the pair.
A 15-year-old from Waterford allegedly produced a hunting-style knife and stabbed Jack to death, before stabbing another teen in the chest and back.
All five of the teens were charged with murder and acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm.
One of the 16-year-old boys was granted bail in a Brisbane court this week.
Jack’s father Brett took to social media to say the bail decision was a joke.
“It’s a joke our family is absolutely heartbroken. Our Jacko will never see the light of day again.” he posted.
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Close family friend and Jack’s former footy coach Wayne Court said the Beasley family wanted to do something so no family had to feel the grief they’re feeling.
“(Jack’s parents) Belinda and Brett want to make a difference, it’s so good of them in such a tough time to be worried about making sure no other parent has to live through what they’re living through,” Mr Court said.
“We’ve been sitting down for the last few weeks working out what we could do.
“We hope to be similar to what Bruce and Denise Morcombe have done, they’re making a difference.”
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He said the foundation hoped to make changes in youth justice and keeping people safe on public transport.
“Youth and youth violence is what we hope to address … we want to use the foundation to drive some necessary changes that need to be made within youth justice.
“The petition for the checkpoint at Helensvale will be a big one, to check between trains to trams.”
He said Brett and Belinda Beasley would be open to going to schools to show the absolute devastation knife crime can inflict.
“But the main thing we want to do is setup a youth education program, take it to schools and educate kids.
“That 13, 14 and 15 age group, to educate them for the future … to show them what their actions can bring.
“The most important thing we can do is get in the schools and talk to these people and have Jack’s parents speak to them, to show the absolute devastation and consequences. Hopefully they can make a smart choice from there, if we can change lives that will be wonderful”
The mother of fatally stabbed teen Harrison Geppert praised the creation of the foundation.
Lisa Maree Geppert posted in the group’s Facebook page saying the violence had to stop.
“As a mother whose 17-year-old son’s life was violently taken at Frascott Park 20 weeks ago today, I understand everything that you are going through,” she said.
“I applaud you for setting up such a worthy foundation. This just has to stop so no more parents endure the senseless murders of our children.”
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