Cooper Onyett: Family ‘at peace’ after funeral exemption denied

The funeral of a boy who drowned at Port Fairy last week has gone ahead — as Cooper’s ‘shattered’ mum promises to celebrate her son’s life.

The mother of a young boy who drowned on a school camp in Port Fairy says she is now “at peace” with the government’s 11th hour refusal to grant her family an exemption to hold his memorial.

Eight-year-old Cooper Onyett’s mother Skye Meinen told the Herald Sun the family will hold a larger memorial in Warrnambool when restrictions ease after the number of people allowed to attend the service was slashed to 10 guests.

“Although others may be angered about their decision, we are at peace with it and Cooper is laid to rest,” Ms Meinen said.

“We look forward to planning the celebration of Cooper’s life with family and friends when Covid restrictions ease enough to allow the capacity we wish to incorporate.”

The family last Friday went ahead with a small funeral after their request was denied.

Ms Meinen told the Herald Sun the funeral on Friday was only attended by immediate family.

“We had a beautiful funeral today to celebrate Cooper’s short eight years with immediate family,” Ms Meinen said.

Earlier, a “distraught” Ms Meinen lashed the state government on social media over its 11th hour decision-making that made it impossible for the family to hold a bigger funeral for their eight-year-old.

Cooper drowned at Belfast Aquatics in Port Fairy on Friday, May 21, while on a school camp with Merrivale Primary School.

“Our hearts are absolutely shattered that we cannot continue with a celebration for Coops …,” Ms Meinen said, ahead of the funeral which was held at 11am Friday.

“Once this bulls — t dies down, we will be able to have the celebration for Cooper that we have dreampt (sic) up the last couple of days.

Cooper Onyett, 8, who drowned at Belfast Aquactics while on school camp with Merrivale Primary School. An exemption was not granted for his funeral.

“I understand you’ll all be as disappointed and as angered as us, but, we cannot do anything, so, please, don’t put (anyone) at risk of fines or litigation.

“We will get our day when the time’s right.”

Addressing questions about the exemption at a press conference this morning, the state’s chief health officer, Professor Brett Sutton said this was among the most difficult of decisions for the exemptions team.

“The exemptions team did speak to the family, and did assess the request. I wasn’t personally involved, the chief health officer doesn’t have a role, appropriately, and I understand that the request was declined.”

“I think these are the most difficult decisions for the exemptions team to make, and it will be weighing extremely heavily on them, but our thoughts are with the family at such extraordinarily difficult times.”

Cooper Onyett, 8, who drowned at Belfast Aquactics while on school camp with Merrivale Primary School. An exemption was not granted for his funeral.

Cooper’s aunt Tennielle Onyett said his family could not have imagined preparing for his farewell “so soon and in this way”.

“No words can describe how we are all feeling today,” she said.

“We couldn’t ever imagine we would be doing this so soon and in this way.

“Cooper Jack … You were an amazing soul. So full of life and outgoing and happy. You beat to your own drum and didn’t have a care in the world.

“You spent your days brightening our lives with your larger than life smile and infectious laugh.

“May you now rest peacefully reunited with your twin brother Ethan.”

Cooper Onyett, 8, who drowned at Belfast Aquactics while on school camp with Merrivale Primary School. An exemption was not granted for his funeral.

Member for South West Coast Roma Britnell said the family had struggled to get answers from the department despite ongoing efforts on Thursday.

“She never found out and made the call at 10 o’clock (Thursday) night, she put a message out to her family, saying that she was going to have to make the call,” Ms Britnell said.

“I’m quite disturbed that they gave her a glimmer of hope.

“You do not give a family that is grieving like this a glimmer of hope and then ignore them.

“It’s really appalling.”

Ms Britnell said the family had been prepared to do everything possible to work within the regulations, having organised a large-screen projector to allow socially distanced mourners outside with only 10 people inside the Wannon Rooms in Warrnambool.

“As a community member, I’m just so distraught for the family as everyone in our community is,” she said.

“This is a tragedy and it is something that we need to be together on. They say ‘we’re all in this together’ – we’ve just left this family high and dry, that’s what we’ve done. That’s not all in this together.”