Daniel morcombe abduction almost 20 years on parents commemorate day for daniel walk 20231027 p5rg2t.html – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
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This was published 2 years ago

Day for Daniel walk stronger than ever, almost 20 years since tragedy

Tom Livingstone

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Schools across the country are marking a Day for Daniel, Australia's largest child safety awareness movement almost 20 years since Daniel Morcombe's abduction and murder.

The 13-year-old Queensland boy was taken in 2003, but it took eight years before his remains were found, thanks to an intensive undercover police operation.

Since his death, Daniel's parents Denise and Bruce started the Daniel Morcombe Foundation and Day for Daniel to raise awareness on child safety in schools.

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Daniel Morcombe was abducted almost 20 years ago. Nine

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"This is our 19th walk for Daniel this year and it is getting bigger and bigger every year," Denise told Today.

"We have got over 7000 schools and early learning centres already registered to participate, so it will be a good fun learning day and we just want all of our kids to be safe."

December 7 marks the day Daniel went missing and Bruce said it remains "a very dark day" for the family.

But trying to put a positive spin on what happened, he said there will be an estimated two million individuals doing something to keep children safe today.

Denise and Bruce Morcombe are walking for child safety on Day for Daniel. Today

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"Daniel's legacy is growing and growing, I think there is this recognition now that it's okay to come forward," Bruce said.

"The old-fashioned stigma of disclosing something, a personal secret, something's happened to you, that's in the bin, it's gone.

"It's fine to come forward, tell your story - it is never your fault, you will be believed and you will be cared for - that is a cultural change that we like to think that the Daniel Morcombe Foundation has contributed to on a national level."

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See what else Bruce and Denise had to say in the video above

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