Former politician Ali France reveals heartbreaking loss of teenage son to cancer

Former Labor candidate Ali France has shared a beautiful tribute to her son Henry, saying he was “the very definition of courageous” in the latest of two tragedies to rock her family.

Former politician Ali France has revealed the tragic loss of her son to leukaemia, saying she would “do anything for more time with my Henry”. Source: X

Former politician Ali France has revealed the tragic loss of her son to leukaemia, saying she would “do anything for more time with my Henry”.

Ms France, who challenged Peter Dutton in the seat of Dickson in 2022, shared her heartbreak on social media on March 22, four weeks after the adored teen succumbed to the disease.

It is the latest crippling blow to her family.

Former politician Ali France and eldest son Henry, who died of leukaemia in February, 2024. Source: X

The mum of two said her boys “are my everything”, and “in the space of six months my youngest (Zac) lost his Dad and his brother. Our hearts are in pieces.”

Ms France’s ex-husband Clive France died of cancer in September last year, with Henry – who was particularly ill with a blood infection – transported by ambulance to say his final goodbye to his father.

Former politician Ali France says she is broken after the loss of her son Henry to leukaemia. Source: X

“We were all broken,” she said. “He (Clive) held on long enough for Henry to recover sufficiently to spend more time with his Dad, in another hospital.”

Ms France said Henry “fought on” and “was the very definition of courageous”.

“It’s been so quiet without Henry. He was loud (in the best way), so very funny, full of hope and so loving. I ache for him to tell me ‘love you Mum’ again.”

She said Henry “did everything he was supposed to do to be a survivor, to stay with us” but “all the love and medicine in the world wasn’t enough”.

Ali France with her beloved son Henry. Source: X

Henry was diagnosed with leukaemia in November 2022 as he was finishing Year 12.

“He watched his friends go to schoolies, to university and jobs from his hospital bed, cheering them on,” Ms France said.

“Henry said to me, ‘Don’t ever make me the excuse for you not doing important stuff, I don’t want to be that guy’. We were arguing over whether I should stay by his bedside or go to a good friend’s 50th.”

Ms France lost her leg below the knee after an horrific incident in 2011 when an elderly driver slammed into her in a Brisbane shopping centre carpark.

In the split second before impact, she tried to push little Zac, then in a stroller, out of the way.

“Nobody realises that it wasn’t so much that I lost my leg, it was my worst fear of nearly losing a child that was the biggest issue for me,” Ms France told The Courier-Mail in 2018.

Originally published as Former politician Ali France reveals heartbreaking loss of teenage son to cancer