How Gold Coast mum turned son’s deadly mistake into something positive
In 2012, Melissa McGuinness’ son caused a crash that killed himself and four others. It’s what this mother did next that has seen her become a finalist in our Women of the Year awards.
Women of the Year
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MELLISSA McGuinness has possibly saved thousands of lives in her time but doesn’t consider herself an angel.
The Tugun mother has spent years speaking to students about the dangers of risky driving after her son drove drunk and high, causing a crash that killed himself and four others back in 2012.
Her work through her organisation, You Choose, has seen her become a finalist in the Harvey Norman Women of the Year Awards in the Angels Among Us category.
“Do I see myself as an angel? Probably not,” she said. “Mine is a labour of love. I’m not driving this mission, this mission is driving me.
“I don’t do it for sympathy or accolades. When you join the club that I’ve joined, it’s a club that no parent ever wants to join. And you can’t leave. So You Choose really organically grew out of the genuine desire to not see any other parent join this club.
INDIGENOUS TEENAGER INSPIRING HER COMMUNITY
VOTING FOR PEOPLE’S CHOICE OPEN: VOTE HERE NOW
“I feel enormously grateful that through the tragedy of losing my son, somewhere along the line my husband and I found some grace and purpose through all of this misery.”
Ms McGuiness is one of dozens of women who have made the list of finalists in our Women of the Year awards, and is able to be voted on in the people’s choice voting. The awards are a Gold Coast Bulletin-led initiative recognising the hard work of women making a difference in the community across the eight categories on these pages.
People’s choice voting is open today and closes in one week on Saturday, May 2.
The overall winner, category winners and the people’s choice winner will be announced on Saturday, June 27.
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