Throngs of people were queuing outside Randwick’s Mary Martin Library as the news hit the shopping centre in Sydney’s eastern suburbs that Crown Princess Mary and Crown Prince Frederik were just two of a clutch of distinguished visitors expected.
The Weekly was lucky enough to be invited along to The Alannah and Madeline Foundation’s private launch of a unique and powerful initiative to keep our children safe in their own homes.
eSmart Homes is the latest program from this innovative and impressive foundation set up in the memory of sisters Alannah and Madeline Mikac who along with their mother and 32 others were murdered in Tasmania’s Port Arthur massacre in 1996.
Father Walter Mikac would have just celebrated Alannah ‘s 21st birthday had she still been alive, instead he is pouring his love and energies into protecting other people’s children through his Foundation of which Crown Princess Mary is the International Patron.
TV host Melissa Doyle was the MC looking stunning in a Scanlan and Theodore navy dress she’d bought specifically to meet Mary. Also in attendance was Samantha Armytage who recently replaced Mel in the anchor’s chair on Sunrise, and Michael Pell the show’s dynamic producer.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott was a surprise addition to the party and in a passionate speech displayed his strong belief in the monarchy when he honored “the devotion to their people and ideals of duty and service … this is the magic of modern monarchy.”
Speaking before him was his cabinet minister Malcolm Turnbull who as the new Communications Minister pledged $7.5 million in funding for a government esafety program which would concentrate on cyberbullying.
The political speeches segued perfectly into Mary’s speech as she declared: “Home is no longer a sanctuary,” and as a mother expressed her primal urge to protect her kids and her fears in this rather scary brave new world of digital revolution.
“Children in particular face significant risks in the online world, including cyberbullying , identity theft and the threat to expose sexual predators,” she declared.
Mary hopes that The Foundation’s eSmart Homes program will provide the framework for parents to really understand how they can protect their children and with her support Chairman John Bertrand hopes they may be able to take this initiative all the way to the United Nations.
In a pretty pale blue and cream lace sheath dress and sparkly dusky gold lurex cardi, the Crown Princess was elegant as ever, but it didn’t stop her sitting down with some of the kids present to see the initiative in action.
