Ann Wason Moore: Losing 10-year-old Sophie Wang was a shock to every resident

In the darkest tragedy, the Gold Coast community has been a ray of light for Emmanuel College, writes Ann Wason Moore

This is a letter of gratitude to the Gold Coast.

It’s an absolute understatement, but last week was tough. Losing 10-year-old Sophie Wang was a shock to every resident and every parent in our city.

As the mother of two children at Sophie’s own Emmanuel College, it was an especially rough time … but I could not be more grateful for not just our school community, but our wider Coast and even Australian family.

When we made the decision to send our then-little children to this Carrara school more than 10 years ago, it was a choice based on the community we saw there.

As someone who had to move countries in the middle of high school, I wanted my children to feel like their school was a second home, a place where they knew every classroom and every crack in the pavement.

A candlelight ceremony was held in remembrance of slain schoolgirl Sophie Wang, who was allegedly murdered by her mother Yingying Xu on Tuesday. Picture by Richard Gosling

I’ve viewed their education as an investment and, while I would best describe myself as a ‘lapsed Catholic’, last week I saw the return on my faith in that community.

At every level, the care and support was incredible. From parents checking in on each other, particularly on the mums and dads of the year 5 cohort, to kids in senior school, like my own, independently deciding in their chat groups to cancel Wednesday’s planned Book Week dress-up day as a sign of respect.

Staff were called in at 5.30am for an emergency briefing and a team of counsellors was assembled, with different approaches for each year level to ensure the support offered to students was age appropriate. Not only that but former staff and others not rostered on that day showed up anyway, just wanting to help however they could.

An email was sent to all parents at 7am and again at the end of the school day, explaining the situation, the layers of support on offer, as well as a list of services which all families could access. Every morning and afternoon, staff were available at every entrance point ready to offer assistance.

The Emmanuel College community is still coming to terms with the passing of Sophie Wang. To support the students, staff and parents, their regular Friday chapel service is focused on coming together for a time of reflection and prayer for Sophie’s family, friends and the community. Picture: Nigel Hallett

On Friday, not only was there a heartbreaking yet heartwarming worship service held in Sophie’s honour, but our principal, Dan Brown, arranged with Therapy Support Animals Australia to bring a group of puppies into the classrooms … the purest, furriest form of therapy.

Both Mr Brown and his leadership team have shown what it means to put the student not just first, but at the centre of school life. This will be an incredibly long road for the college, grief rarely follows a straightforward path, but from the school’s very first steps, I have faith that it will build an even stronger community.

And then there are the teachers.

Attending the Friday morning service, it was seeing their faces that broke my heart. In many ways, my mind can’t wrap itself around the actual incident itself. It’s too much to process.

But I can empathise with those teachers and staff, so many of whom I’m fortunate to call friends. The effort they have put in to stay strong among the students, to keep the kids talking and singing in the younger years, or talking and crying in the older years, even as they struggle under the weight of ‘what-ifs’ is nothing less than heroic.

While this second-guessing white ants away at many, these staff have steadied themselves to be the rock these kids can lean on, and I’m sure it’s taking its toll.

The Gold Coast community has rallied around her academic father, Dr Yun Wang, who found his daughter's 10yo body in the living room of the home on Tuesday night. Picture by Richard Gosling

But it’s not just our school and our staff, right across the Gold Coast, Emmanuel has been showered with love and support from the education community.

On Wednesday, TSS principal Andy Hawkins sent three counsellors to the school’s doorstep, on Friday, St Vincent’s Catholic primary school sent morning tea to the Emmanuel staff, Mr Brown said he had been contacted by more than 60 schools from across the country, but especially this city, with offers to help in any way possible.

Then there was the moving candlelight vigil held by the Emerald Lakes community, whose businesses are like part of the school’s extended community, and the incredible gesture by our Gold Coast Suns AFL team, based just across Nerang-Broadbeach Road from the school, who donned black armbands in remembrance of Sophie.

Personally, I’ve had messages from friends and colleagues across the city, echoing the experience of so many other Emmanuel parents. The comments on social media, from community groups to media groups, have been an example of how this platform can be harnessed for good.

This past week has been any community’s worst nightmare, but this school and this city have found the silver lining of fellowship, reminding us all of the best of humanity.

So thank you, Gold Coast. Your care has not gone unnoticed.

The Gold Coast community has rallied around her academic father, Dr Yun Wang, who found his daughter's 10yo body in the living room of the home on Tuesday night. Police allege Sophie's throat had been slashed. Picture by Richard Gosling