Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
The Alice Springs community has rallied to support a little
family whose newborn baby was left with a fractured skull
in a violent home invasion. It's alleged two boys aged
sixteen and seventeen broke into the family's larapint home, with
one of them using a metal pole to hit the
mum who was holding her baby daughter. The Alice Springs
(00:22):
Baseball Associations now started a go fund me page to
support the little family, with the infant receiving care at
the Adelaide Women and Children's Hospital. That baby girl's dad
joins me on the line right now, Marlon Sequenza, Good morning.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
To you morning. How are you going?
Speaker 1 (00:43):
Not too bad?
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Mate?
Speaker 1 (00:44):
How is your little girl going?
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Look, it's a good day to day. She's been out
of the intensive care units a couple a day in
a bit ago now, so that's been a huge win,
a great sense of relief that she's going one step
forward each and every day. So that that's the first thing.
And and she's actually had no siezures since since late
(01:12):
Friday afternoon as well too, so that's that's a huge
tick as well too. So we are we're slowly, slowly,
slowly moving.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
Forward, mate, I am so pleased to hear that. I
know that the whole of the Northern Territory is going
to be breathing a sigh of relief hearing that as well.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
How's your wife, she's she's okay. You know, mums and wives,
they're an amazing mix, one hundred and ten percent, aren't
they not? Because they you know, she she's come, she's
coming off the adrenaline that has been the last few days.
You know. She she flew down by herself with antonia,
(01:52):
and it was it was turbulent, to say the least,
the whole situation, you know, with the condition of the
eye and not knowing what was happening with us, and
unnaturally so many doctors and nurses trying to help as
well too. But she's okay for the moment. She unfortunately, yes,
she did stuffer the the hit to the face across
(02:15):
the cheeks, so she got swelling the thankfully and thank
you Jesus's no, there's no internal damage, which is great.
So she's she's she's slowly on the mend for herself
as well too.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
Malon, what was it like for you when you received
the call and found out that your home had been
invaded by two teenagers and the situation that your little
family was in.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
It was horrible. It was horrible. That's the honestly the
best way to describe it. Like, you know, when when
when you receive a call like that, naturally it's unexpected,
and it's it's all senses heightened, and it's the overwhelming
one to throw up feeling of what what like what
is this information that I just received? You know what
(03:05):
I mean? Where it's And then and then driving home
seeing my children shell shock, absolutely shattered by the experience
and frightened. It It rips at the core of your being,
you know, realizing that someone infected your your personal space,
someone infiltrated that what should be your safe space, and
(03:28):
it was just gut wrenching, really, mate, it's.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
Like it's it's I feel so many different emotions when
I heard what had happened last week as a mom
of two kids. First off, I thought to myself, you know,
I can't even begin to imagine how your wife must
have felt cradling your baby and then worrying about your
other children as these two teenagers invade your home.
Speaker 2 (03:57):
One hundred percent, one hundred percent, it was Yeah, just
shattering to all all the emotions, you know, like and furthermore,
knowing that my two older boys, valiant, strong little little
lads that they are, they were worried for themselves, worried
for the situation, worried for the mama, and seeing what
(04:18):
had just happened. You know, just just how us do
you describe it? But horrible?
Speaker 1 (04:24):
Welon, how old are your children? All of your children, so.
Speaker 2 (04:30):
Out of the well, all of them. They are eleven
ninety seven, four and two months old?
Speaker 1 (04:36):
Oh mite? How are they all going? How are your
other kids going? Following on from what happened?
Speaker 2 (04:42):
Look, I'll be honest, it's not good. You know. They're
they're little people and with little brains and big hearts.
They they're processing it in all directions, you know, from
from fear to anger to being scared of of the
situation and different thoughts that are swelling in their hands.
(05:04):
It is a process with them, because they witnessed the
whole thing. You know, It's not something that they heard of,
not something that It's not a movie. It was real life.
Speaker 1 (05:15):
I I've thought a lot about you guys over the
last few days, and you know, I'm just how you
respond as parents, you know, to try to protect your children,
to try to help your children, and now to be
in a situation that you and your wife are in
where it's no fault of your own, you know, where
(05:37):
this this whole situation is unfolded into your lives that
you guys are now trying to deal with through absolutely
no fault of your own.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
Absolutely, Like you know, we consider ourselves pretty pretty normal,
happy go lucky people, you know, like we do what
we do in work, business, children's life, for all the
things that you do for a family, right and exactly
you said, like what do you do after after this
has come into your life? You know, how do you
(06:09):
have that conversation when when your children ask you are
the bad guys here too? You know, like it's it's
it's heartbreaking.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
Where are where are you all now? Are you in
Ellis Springs or have you have you gone down to
Adelaide to to try and be there with your wife
and your little baby girl.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
Yeah, that's right. Look, we've been so fortunate because of
so many different avenues that have just come on board
for us and rally behind us. So yes, we are
in Adelaide now, you know. And that was just the
best weight off off our shoulders. You know, you could
feel and see the mood change in everyone's faces as
we were able to walk through the hospital doors and
(06:50):
see see my wife and my baby. It was the best,
best feeling out of out of everything so far. So yeah,
we are currently here, yeah, and we'll be here until
until an Donia gets all clear.
Speaker 1 (07:05):
Oh your dear little girl. And you know, like I say,
my heart just breaks for you guys, what you've been through.
But talking to you this morning, Marlon, you know I
can hear how much love you've got for your wife
and your family, and and you know you sound so
bloody strong and resilient despite what has gone on, which
I think is just incredible.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
Thank you. I mean, there's there's definitely been a you know,
I've been saying, it's a Titanic size worth of tears
that we've shared out of out of all the emotions,
out of all of us, because it's, like you put
it quite well before, you know, the unexpected of a
horrible situation. So it's it's one day at a time
(07:47):
for sure.
Speaker 1 (07:48):
Yeah, I bet it is, Marlon. There's you know, there's
a lot that we sort of can't say, and we've
got to be very careful, I guess in terms of
what we do say, because you want to make sure
that the perpetrators are indeed you know that that the
that they go to court and that it is not
jeopardized in any way, shape or form. I mean, is
(08:12):
there is there anything that you can say in terms
of how you may be felt when you'd learned that
that they had reportedly been involved in prior offending.
Speaker 2 (08:27):
Look, it's horrible, it's disgusting, and no one should have
that kind of rap sheet. And furthermore, no one should
have that kind of rap sheet at their age, regardless
of the of the individual, culture, race, or or whatever
aspect anyone wants to add to it. You know, there's
a lot to be to be said that, like you said,
can't be said at the moment. But it's it really,
(08:50):
it really is a saddening situation. It's angering because of
my personal situation, but far out like that's that's not
how how we is human it should live at all.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
You're so so spot on there, Marlon. Look, I always
say the thing that sort of surprise it never surprises me,
I guess. In the Northern Territory is that when these
really terrible things happen, what we actually see is the
beautiful Northern Territory spirit that shines through. Right and in
(09:24):
Alice Springs, the Alice Springs Baseball Association started a go
fund me page for you guys. It's currently sitting at
more than fifty one thousand dollars.
Speaker 2 (09:36):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
How does that like, how do you feel when you
hear that?
Speaker 2 (09:42):
It's it's it's all inspiring, but it's also it makes
you swallow your ego, you know, like it's humbling, like
it wasn't something that was asked for, but it's it
shows just how many people care, and that that's the
part that's tumbling. That's the part that's loving and amazing
(10:04):
because people relate on that emotional level where they say, wow,
what a horrible situation. It's the least they could do.
And like I said, it's not that it was asked for,
but it really is humbling and amazing to see that
kind of reaction from the community local and at large too.
Speaker 1 (10:26):
Yeah, well this is the thing, right, you know, people
want to support you guys. Because I think that's so
many families listening this morning, so many parents, aunties, uncles,
grandparents listening this morning will be thinking to themselves. You know,
you've been placed in this situation through absolutely no fault
of your own. They want to support you, they want
(10:47):
to try to help you. What is that money going
to go towards? Marlin? And you know I would imagine
that right now or you know, like it's just days
before Christmas. Your baby girl is in hospital, your wife
is in the hospital. You've got to look after your
other kids as well.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
That's right, Like I mean, we we don't have a
plan for for that kind of money. It's it really
is just incredible if if we stay here, there is
a possibility that we stay here around up until Christmas.
So you know, as best as we can, we'll we'll
(11:27):
still celebrate the season. You know, it's the best, Like
we are Christmas fanatics at home, and we we always say,
you know, it's the best season and the best reason
for the season as well too, and so just to
make make light to make make a happy memory through
it all, we you know, it will definitely be something
(11:49):
that we we still strive for for the kids, for
us and for those that love us so much as well.
Speaker 1 (11:56):
Oh mate, can you a beautiful dad? You know, like
I said earlier, I can't even imagine how tough it
must have been for you guys over the last week.
And you know, I think about you receiving that phone
call and how you must have felt, then getting home
and finding your wife and your little baby in that situation,
(12:20):
and then tending to your other kids. Yeah, I can't
even begin to imagine how tough it's been for you.
So it makes me really happy to see the way
that the community is rallying behind you, and I know
that so many others are going to want to support
you in some way, shape or form. What's it been
(12:42):
like over the recent days as well? You know, you
talk that money, and that's obviously one thing, but what's
it been like for you in terms of the messages
of support and people getting in contact with you letting
you know that they that they really care and that
they're thinking of you.
Speaker 2 (12:57):
I mean, like I've through throughout the last few days
of developed this sort of phrase of you know, as
comical as it is, you know, whoever thought that you
would mix an inundation of love throughout such a tragedy,
and it really has been that. It's overwhelming at times, yes,
but you know, an inundation of love of the poor
people reaching out, like you said, locally our Alice Springs
(13:22):
community through particular fantastic friend katrinis Lie and the Baseball
Association they jumped on rallied together for us through the
bake sales, through the go fund me. But yes, the
messages of support, you know, whether it's from the simple things,
you know, can we do groceries? Can we help you
with home? Can we help you clean your house when
(13:46):
you're coming back? What do you need? You know, the
first twenty four hours of that million dollar question what
do you need to which I had I had no
answer to. But you know, absolutely inundation of love is
just overwhelmingly wonderful.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Oh made I'm so pleased to hear that.
Speaker 2 (14:03):
I really am.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
Now you and the family you are going back to
Alice Springs or has it made just sort of think
twice in any way about whether you stay.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Look, I was having a chat with a buddy of
mine and it really is it's hard to explain on
to other people who don't live in Alice Springs. You know,
Alice Springs has a way about it, right. The nature
is just beautiful, The location is wonderful. Yes, crime is
(14:34):
there and it's getting to a level where it's just
incredibly horrible. But like we were, coming up to seven
years being locals. Now if you call that local, I
don't know. But you know, it's the people in the
community that you fall in love with, it really is,
(14:55):
and that's what keeps you bonded. That's what keeps you
going through situation like this, you know, through any other thing,
it's the people that are around you. So I don't
have an answer for that one. You know what we'll do.
It's home. It's home for my children, it's home for us.
So you know what we do is just right now,
(15:18):
one step at a time, one day at a time,
and when we get home, we'll tackle that her all
then too. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (15:25):
Well, Marlon, thank you so much for having a chat
with us this morning. I know that the whole of
the Northern Territory has wanted to hear from you. There's
like so many people just wanting to know and wanting
to make sure that you and your little family and
your wife are going to be okay. And I'm really
pleased to hear that your little girl is doing better
(15:48):
in hospital. Is there any indication of how long she's
going to be in there.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
No certain amount of time naturally in Euroslogion wants to
make sure that she is confident to give Antonia the
all clear. So it is a matter of time that
there has been talks of. You know, if it's good,
it might be a certain amount of time. If it
takes longer than like I said, you know, Christmas might
be a possibility or what it may be.
Speaker 1 (16:17):
Well made. All my love, my prayers, support to you guys.
I please keep us up to date and let us
know how you're all tracking, and we'll try to do
the same. But thank you very much for having a
chat with us this morning, and we'll certainly encourage people
to continue to jump on that go fund me page
to show you guys that love well amazing.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
Thank you. I appreciate the time
Speaker 1 (16:40):
Thank you, Thanks so much,