Parents of Jack Brown killed in ute tragedy launch foundation to honour him
Parents have launched a foundation to honour their five-year-old son who died after being struck by a ute just months before he was due to start school.
A five-year-old boy who was killed after he was struck by a ute was so excited to go to school for the first time, his broken parents have revealed.
Jack Brown died after allegedly being hit by a vehicle on a private property on Gilliland Crescent, Blackbutt North on July 3, 2023.
“We are pretty broken, but I’m just learning to live alongside that grief,” Jack’s mother, Carla Brown, said.
“He was keen for what was next. He just was itching to go to school, he wore these black school shoes for months and it was the middle of the year before.”
Now Carla and Jack’s dad, Jim Brown, have launched the Jack Brown Foundation, which will support the community and children through his greatest loves – education, sport, community and nature.
Mr Brown said it was about keeping Jack’s legacy alive while helping the community who kept them going through their worst times.
“When everything happened, the community came together,” he said.
“We were getting meals off everyone, meals from the school. Everyone just sort of dropped everything and just came to our aid.
“Heartache and grief can be hard but we have tried to turn it into good. We are hoping to give back anywhere we can.
“That’s just a little step forward and as the foundation grows, we can help more families, and if people are in the same situation, I really hope they don’t, but there’s funding there too.”
Mr Brown said the foundation wasn’t the only way the family was holding on to Jack’s memory.
“We’ve got photos of him all around the house. We’re still trying to keep going down fishing and camping and whatnot, because that’s what Jack loves,” he said.
“So that’s one way of sort of honouring his memory.”
One of the hardest memories for the family is the week Jack died – where they had been camping with friends.
“It was a friend’s private property. There were animals, bike riding. They loved it,” Ms Brown said.
“There was lots of nice memories that weekend, but it’s sort of like this weird feeling because you look at photos, he’s wearing the shirt that he died in.
“It’s hard because there were such nice memories. There was a whole weekend of them just playing whatever.”
Mr Brown said Jack was full of energy and loved playing with his big brother. The thing he misses the most is putting him on his shoulders.
“I’d put him up on my shoulders, and even though, after half an hour, I was starting to get sore, I pushed through it, because I loved it so much and he’d wear my hat,” he said.
Ms Brown said Jack loved reading and had a sweet tooth.
“He loved anything sweet. He’d walk into a party and he’d be like, ‘where’s the cake’,” she said. “He got to have a reward one day ... and the treat that he chose, he wanted a whole cake at the bakery instead of just like a little piece, he was obsessed.”
The Jack Brown Foundation will officially launch at Capalaba Bulldogs Football Club from 2.30pm on Saturday.
In the wake of the tragedy, a 44-year-old was charged with the dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death and is expected to face a week-long trial in April.
Originally published as Parents of Jack Brown killed in ute tragedy launch foundation to honour him
