Ayla
21-11-2008, 01:49 PM
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,,24170519-421,00.html
The Daily Telegraph
August 13, 2008 02:34am
BULLYING victim Alex Wildman was the second teenager at a NSW high school to take his own life after being targeted by cruel students.
In an eerily similar tragedy it has emerged that 15-year-old Tim Winkler committed suicide after he too was hounded by bullies over several months.
Like Alex, Tim was an unhappy student at Kadina High School, in Lismore on the Far North Coast, and had been bullied over a long period.
Both boys shared a strong interest in motorcycles but were unable to cope with their tormentors and killed themselves, leaving shattered families and friends.
Yesterday Tim's family launched an impassioned plea to stop bullies from "destroying" more lives.
His mum Rhonda Winkler contacted lawyers acting for Alex Wildman's family offering to help their campaign against bullying.
Tim's uncle, Chris Winkler, demanded the State Government "do something positive to remedy this problem before other families are torn apart".
"Our family and Alex's family will never be the same," Mr Winkler said in a letter to The Daily Telegraph.
"I really feel for Alex's mother, Ms Kelly, and Alex's family. I really do know the pain they must be enduring at the moment and it will not get any better for a long time.
"On the 4th August, 2001, my 15-year-old nephew Timothy Winkler also took his own life because of constant bullying whilst also attending Kadina High School at Lismore.
"How many more young lives and families will be destroyed before this bullying is addressed and eradicated?"
Mr Winkler told of the pain and trauma inflicted on those left behind.
"When someone takes their own life the pain and suffering does not stop with the death of that person," he said.
"It's the loved ones left behind who suffer through no fault of their own.
"They suffer guilt complexes like 'why didn't I see it coming' ... 'where did I fail', but the truth is it is not their fault.
"My brother, Timothy's father, battled with this along with the rest of the family until it became too much for him on 22/4/2003 when he took his own life to stop his own pain and suffering."
Mrs Winkler said Kadina High's reputation should not be the top priority of the Department of Education and Training: "Surely the objective is to stamp out bullying and in the process save lives."
An Education Department spokesman said last night it was unable to comment on the allegations of bullying because police were investigating and a coronial inquiry (into Alex Wildman's death) was expected.
The Daily Telegraph
August 13, 2008 02:34am
BULLYING victim Alex Wildman was the second teenager at a NSW high school to take his own life after being targeted by cruel students.
In an eerily similar tragedy it has emerged that 15-year-old Tim Winkler committed suicide after he too was hounded by bullies over several months.
Like Alex, Tim was an unhappy student at Kadina High School, in Lismore on the Far North Coast, and had been bullied over a long period.
Both boys shared a strong interest in motorcycles but were unable to cope with their tormentors and killed themselves, leaving shattered families and friends.
Yesterday Tim's family launched an impassioned plea to stop bullies from "destroying" more lives.
His mum Rhonda Winkler contacted lawyers acting for Alex Wildman's family offering to help their campaign against bullying.
Tim's uncle, Chris Winkler, demanded the State Government "do something positive to remedy this problem before other families are torn apart".
"Our family and Alex's family will never be the same," Mr Winkler said in a letter to The Daily Telegraph.
"I really feel for Alex's mother, Ms Kelly, and Alex's family. I really do know the pain they must be enduring at the moment and it will not get any better for a long time.
"On the 4th August, 2001, my 15-year-old nephew Timothy Winkler also took his own life because of constant bullying whilst also attending Kadina High School at Lismore.
"How many more young lives and families will be destroyed before this bullying is addressed and eradicated?"
Mr Winkler told of the pain and trauma inflicted on those left behind.
"When someone takes their own life the pain and suffering does not stop with the death of that person," he said.
"It's the loved ones left behind who suffer through no fault of their own.
"They suffer guilt complexes like 'why didn't I see it coming' ... 'where did I fail', but the truth is it is not their fault.
"My brother, Timothy's father, battled with this along with the rest of the family until it became too much for him on 22/4/2003 when he took his own life to stop his own pain and suffering."
Mrs Winkler said Kadina High's reputation should not be the top priority of the Department of Education and Training: "Surely the objective is to stamp out bullying and in the process save lives."
An Education Department spokesman said last night it was unable to comment on the allegations of bullying because police were investigating and a coronial inquiry (into Alex Wildman's death) was expected.