Following the tragic incident at Hillcrest Primary School in December 2021, a heart sculpture was created to represent the state’s broken heart. To commemorate the one-year anniversary of the incident, a sculpture will be displayed in the town of Devonport. Six children died when a wind gust caused a jumping castle to collapse.
The victims of the incident were identified as Peter Dodt, Jalailah Jones, and Jye Sheehan, as well as Jye Stewart, Zachariah Stewart, and Josiah Stewart. Three other students were seriously injured. The incident has been regarded as one of the most tragic events in the school’s history.
According to Alison Jarman, the mayor of the town of Devonport, the incident deeply affected the community. A public memorial will be held at the Market Square in the town on Thursday evening. Residents are invited to leave messages or flowers in the sculpture.
A private ceremony will be held at the school on December 16. Jarman urged the community to help each other in times of need. A recovery committee was also established to help organize the public memorial. During the days following the incident, people left flowers, toys, and messages outside the school.
The council collected the flowers and toys, and plans for a permanent memorial were made. A total of $1.4 million was raised for the victims’ families. A coronial inquest will also be held to investigate the incident. An administrative hearing held by the school revealed that a powerful and concentrated tornado hit the school oval while 39 students were inside the building.
It’s believed that five of the victims died while riding the jumping castle, while the other six were killed when an object hit them while they were in line. Other evidence that will be presented at the inquest include a report from WorkSafe Tasmania, as well as accounts from students, school staff, and emergency responders.