"It's always a tough day": What has changed in the 20 years since Daniel Morcombe's death
Daniel Morcombe's parents have reflected on the day their son was kidnapped and murdered, on the 20th anniversary of his disappearance.
Bruce Morcombe appeared on Sunrise on Thursday morning, sharing how the date is always a painful one to live through.
Daniel was 13-years-old old when he was kidnapped from a bus stop on Queensland's Sunshine Coast on December 7th 2003, with Peter Cowan later being convinced for his murder in 2014.
“It’s always a tough day but what we think about is Daniel’s brothers, our other two sons, and our grandkids,” he said.
“They lost a brother, a twin brother. They will be hurting equally the same.”
Since Daniel disappeared, the Morcombes have dedicated their lives to keeping other children safe, establishing the Daniel Morcombe Foundation shortly after his murder.
As well as raising awareness on child safety, the couple offer practical advice for families, such as creating a “family password” with your kids as a way to keep them safe.
Sunrise host Monique Wright became emotional while speaking to the Morcombes, saying, “Bruce and Denise Morcombe, they have just changed so many lives through their tireless work.”
“It’s irrefutable that they have stopped so much child abuse over the years, just extraordinary,” she added.
Bruce added that while it is a sad day as they remember their son, it is important to remind people of his legacy while keeping others safe.
“Remember this was a young boy of 13, 12 days short of turning 14. He never made it to 14,” he said.
“It happened to Daniel, it can happen to you. Daniel was an innocent kid, like anybody else.”
Image credits: Sunrise