By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
LUKE Shambrook’s dirt-stained jumper now adorns the foyer wall at Knox police station.
The jumper – which the Narre Warren boy was wearing when he was miraculously rescued after going missing in bushland near Lake Eildon for four nights last year – was officially unveiled at the police station this week.
Luke, who has autism, joined his mum Rachel, his father Tim and younger siblings Matthew and Lauren at the police station on Monday 11 April to give their thanks to the officers who searched tirelessly for the then 11-year-old over the Easter long weekend 12 months ago.
“From our perspective as Luke’s parents we acknowledge and are incredibly thankful for the effort and commitment to the tasks shown by each and every person, and especially the police members,” Rachel said on Monday.
“We’re very aware of the connection each of you made with us as a family, to Tim and I, as Luke’s parents and also the responsibility that each police member had in the task of finding Luke.”
Luke’s smiling face was broadcast worldwide last year when he was found in the bush after four nights and five days without food or water.
Every Easter Luke and his family stay with relatives and friends at the Candlebark camping area in the Lake Eildon National Park for the long weekend.
The Shambrooks arrived at the camping ground on a Thursday afternoon and had breakfast with Luke the next day, but later on the Friday morning the young boy took it upon himself to go on an adventure.
“In the months since April last year we’ve had an even greater appreciation of what it must have taken for each police member to get up each morning and begin, again, the task of fulfilling the role that they had in the search,” Rachel said.
“Each time you co-ordinated volunteers or gave briefings or updated records or liaised with the other service organisations, there must have been an increasing sense of hopelessness and loss.
“But to your credit you persisted with a sense of purpose and determination to do your utmost and each one of you contributed in ways beyond your responsibility.”
Despite last year’s ordeal, Rachel and Tim felt it was important to return to Lake Eildon and this Easter went back there for their annual camping trip.
Rachel described this year’s trip as a type of “closure”.
“The first couple of days were stressful and we were very mindful of him,” she said.
“It was closure with the trauma and emotional status and getting that first year out of the way.
“It really was a miracle.”
Assistant Commissioner Rick Nugent, who spoke at Monday’s event, applauded his family’s “resilience” and “courage”.
“Luke’s story was an amazing story of survival,” he said.
“It’s just over 12 months now since Luke was separated from Rachel and Tim, his parents, at Lake Eildon on a holiday and he commenced one of the biggest searches we’ve had for some time.”
The jumper is unveiled by Luke’s mum Rachel
