Mother of young Victorian drowning victim hopeful for funeral exemption
A boy who drowned in Victoria last week was to be farewelled tomorrow - day one of Victoria's snap lockdown.
Cooper Onyett drowned in a pool at Belfast Aquatics in the rural Victorian town of Port Fairy just before 11am on Friday.
His memorial is to take place in Warrnambool tomorrow at 11am.
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The grieving family of Cooper Onyett said the boy will be 'missed beyond measure'. Supplied Nine
Today, caps were placed on funerals as part of the state's seven-day lockdown.
Cooper's mother Skye Meinen said on 3AW this morning an already difficult time had been made worse.
"I'm just hoping that we can gain some sort of exemption," she told Neil Mitchell.
"We've got a whole school that's mourning for a friend."
Ms Meinen said their family needed the community right now.
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Cooper Onyett drowned while on a school camp in Victoria. Supplied
"We really need support from family and friends to get through this," she said.
"We've all been so strong and to rip away the support that we've really opened to is just something that I just think would be detrimental."
Just a maximum of 10 people, along with the people running the service, can attend a funeral from tomorrow.
Acting Premier James Merlino today said he was aware Ms Meinen was upset at the sudden changes.
"This is a particularly tragic case ... it is every parent's worst nightmare - giving your kids a kiss, they are excited to go off to camp, and then we have this tragic incident," Mr Merlino said.
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Cooper Onyett (right) was on a school camp in Port Fairy when he drowned. Supplied Nine
"What I can say is we've got the settings in terms of funerals, which is a maximum of 10, but I've asked I've already indicated and had a discussion with professor Sutton that I'll ask the public health team to get in touch with the mum."
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Eight-year-old Cooper, who attended Merrivale Primary School in Warrnambool, was on his first overnight camp with his grade 2 class at the time of the tragedy.
An online fundraiser raised more than $84,000 to cover funeral expenses and support his heartbroken mother Skye Meinen.
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