DANIEL Morcombe’s school Siena College at Sippy Downs on the Sunshine Coast has marked news of the jailing of his murderer with prayer in staff rooms and at last week’s assembly.
Principal Graeme Hight said the school’s response had been “deliberately quite low key”.
However, memories of the school’s former student who was abducted and murdered by Brett Peter Cowan shortly before Christmas in 2003 will live on in many positive ways.
Cowan was convicted of Daniel’s murder on Thursday, March 13.
Justice Roslyn Atkinson said “I don’t think you should be released in 20 years time”.
He was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 20 years.
“Our farewell to Daniel as a school was at his funeral,” Mr Hight said.
“To involve the kids in the legality of court cases, verdicts and the stories now coming out doesn’t really add much to this.
“We have his physical memorial in place and an award in his name each year at Awards Night as reminders of him.
“There are also high levels of student participation at the Walk for Daniel each year.”
Daniel’s Requiem Mass was held at St Catherine of Siena Church, Sippy Downs, on December 7, 2012.
Inside the church were more than 900 mourners including Daniel’s mother and father Bruce and Denise Morcombe, his twin brother Bradley and his older brother Dean.
Outside were more than 1000 people including Daniel’s former classmates and dozens of State Emergency Service volunteers who helped unearth Daniel’s remains.
Hundreds of students from Siena College formed a guard of honour along with community members.
Among others present were Queensland Police Commissioner Ian Stewart, former Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson, Police Minister Jack Dempsey, representing the Queensland Government and former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
Many of the mourners wore red to recall the colour of the t-shirt 13-year-old Daniel was wearing the day he disappeared.
Mr and Mrs Morcombe have since set up the Daniel Morcombe Foundation to educate children on how to stay safe in a physical and online environment and to support young victims of crime.
