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Daniel Morcombe (pictured) was abducted in December 2003 from the Keil Mountain Road overpass in Palmwoods, Queensland. Police now suspect the 14 year old was murdered. In 2005 Daniel’s parents Bruce and Denise Morcombe, established The Daniel Morcombe Foundation. The foundation’s mission is simple – protection, safety and opportunity for children.
30 October is Day for Daniel. Now in its 5th year, Day for Daniel continues to grow on a National scale and is recognised as Australia’s largest participation event of its type. But the Morcombes said this is not a memorial day, “It’s not a day to be sad, it’s a fun day, and it’s a learning day. We are hoping to have 500,000 children involved. If we can help to save one child, hopefully we’ve done our job.”
You can be involved on October 30 by wearing red – the colour Daniel was last seen wearing – hosting a red-themed morning tea, inviting a police officer to talk at a school, learning more online at www.beingsafetysmart.com.au or by watching the Foundation RED child safety DVD.
Register your participation online at www.dayfordaniel.com.au.
In support of Day for Daniel, Terri, Bindi and Robert Irwin will wear red instead of their trademark Khaki uniforms. Terri Irwin said Daniel Morcombe wristbands and identification cards for children – along with activities and ideas about child safety – will feature on the day.
Terri said, “By supporting this wonderful organisation you’re helping to keep children safe and smart about their surrounds. We want children to get better educated about this, to avoid dangerous situations. Every child deserves to be safe.”
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Tony Negus said given that two young people go missing every hour in Australia, child protection and safety is paramount for all Australians.
“Children need protection, education and support so they don’t become a missing child or an innocent victim of crime,” Commissioner Negus said. “The work of Bruce and Denise Morcombe is inspiring. We need to support them in getting the message out as widely as possible to prevent children from going missing. We encourage all Australians, schools and businesses to support Day for Daniel and our shared aim of keeping children safe.”
The National Missing Persons Coordination Centre was established in 2006 to provide a coordinated approach to the response to missing persons in Australia. It’s funded by the Federal Government through the Australian Federal Police. Its mission is to reduce the incidence and impact of missing persons and to educate the Australian community about this significant issue. For more information visit: www.missingpersons.gov.au.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has launched a special video news release with Australia Zoo and parents of missing Queensland boy Daniel Morcombe to raise awareness of missing persons and child safety.
The video (watch it below) features interviews with AFP Commissioner Tony Negus, Bruce and Denise Morcombe and Australia Zoo’s Terri and Bindi Irwin, and urges public support for the red-themed Day for Daniel on Friday 30 October.
“Daniel was a real boy,” Denise Morcombe said. “He was 14 years old just going Christmas shopping, just trying to catch a bus. What happened to Daniel could happen to anyone.”