The Daniel Morcombe Foundation is a step closer to having a permanent home with the sod turning of their new facility at Palmwoods today.
Child Safety Minister Di Farmer who attended the sod turning said $900,000 in State Government funding had been provided to the Foundation to help them build the new facility.
“The work the Daniel Morcombe Foundation does every day is amazing as they strive to keep children across Australia safe, but we know their current location at the Big Pineapple is no longer suitable for them to continue working from,” she said.
“That’s why the Queensland Government has provided this funding to make sure they can continue to spread their child safety message and work with schools and families to keep more children safe.
“Bruce and Denise Morcombe have been fearless in honouring their son Daniel and have worked tirelessly for over 13 years to help children recognise when they might be in danger and who they can go to for help.
“As a result of their work more than 260,000 Queensland students have learnt how stay safe, and the Foundation has visited more than 1000 schools around the country.”
Ms Farmer said it was vital this work continued and she was proud to be able to help them achieve their goal of having a permanent home.
“Today, the sod-turning here at Palmwoods, marks an important milestone for the Morcombes who first started the foundation in their kitchen on the Sunshine Coast and later moved to the Big Pineapple,” she said.
“A new permanent home means they can continue the incredible work they do in our communities here in Queensland, and across the country.
“It is work that motivates everyone to put their hand up and play a part in child safety, something that is everyone’s responsibility.”
The Morcombes thanked the Queensland Government for funding the build and supporting the foundation’s vision.
“Daniel’s legacy is very much about everyone appreciating that in ordinary everyday situations a child may find themselves unsafe,” Bruce said.
“This could be online or offline, it could be from someone they know or someone in the community.”
The new facility is expected to be open in December 2018.