💔 LILY HOOPER’S FAMILY SPEAKS OUT AFTER HER HEARTBREAKING L0SS… AND THE WISH THEY WANT TO LEAVE IN HER MEMORY IS NOW DRAWING FRESH ATTENTION
‘That’s about the awareness of going out in the bush with EPIRBs, tracker devices, Garmin, Navman-type devices.’
The family of teenager Lily Hooper are calling for better bush safety education and emergency tracking devices for young people venturing into the bush, as they process the devastating loss of their daughter.
Lily Hooper, 18, set off on a trail in the Nattai National Park on August 12 for what should have been a day hike. Her body was found on Thursday after a gruelling eight-day search.
Her father Jim Hooper and his wife Kirrily are now pushing for what they’re calling “Lily’s Law” — a legacy focused on bush safety awareness.
“We think it’d be good if there was a legacy that was left like a Skye’s Law, Jack’s Law … Lily’s Law,” Jim said.
“And that’s about the awareness of going out in the bush with EPIRBs, tracker devices, Garmin, Navman type devices.”
The grieving father walked the track his daughter took and believes he has some idea what may have happened.
“I did walk the track, it’s a hectic track, I was surprised she took it on. I think it was on dark and she got disorientated and she headed in a direction that she didn’t walk in on,” he said.
“Like I said the bush can swallow you up.”
Jim said he had previously tried to discuss bush safety with his daughter, but like many teenagers, she was confident in her abilities.
“I locked horns with her about this sort of stuff which saddens me in a lot of ways because there was a lot of you know ‘what do you know dad’ stuff and you know kids think they know better,” he said.
Despite the tragic outcome, the family has found some solace in having closure.
“Out of the three scenarios of getting her back alive, getting her back [deceased] and then not getting her back we got the middle one,” Jim said.
“Not ideal but at least we got her back.”
The family is also pleading with NSW Premier Chris Minns to honour Lily, who worked as a tour guide at BridgeClimb, by flying the flag at half-mast.
Deputy Premier Prue Car said the government would be working with the family on their request.
“I think everyone’s heart has broken watching what’s happened over the past week,” she said.
“We’ll be working with the family and we’ll have something to say about that shortly.”
SOURCE: https://7news.com.au/news/lily-hoopers-family-calls-for-bush-safety-law-after-tragic-hiking-death-c-22765901