Sophie Delezio
Encyclopedia
Sophie Joy Delezio
is an Australia
n schoolgirl
, the first daughter of Ron Delezio and Carolyn Martin and younger sister of Mitchell Delezio. She gained media attention when she was involved in an accident at the Roundhouse Childcare Centre in Fairlight
, Sydney
Australia, where she suffered third-degree burns to 85% of her body and was hospitalised for several weeks where she lost both her legs. Her family has since then become major fundraisers and activists for victims who suffered conditions as Sophie's, and have also assisted in fundraising for the Children's Hospital at Westmead
in Westmead
. Sophie became known by the media and the public in Sydney as "Little Sophie".
in Sydney
, Australia
. Sophie suffered burns to 85% of her body and lost both feet, some fingers, and her right ear. Molly Wood suffered burns to 40% of her body, but has since made a good recovery.
Sophie was released from Westmead Childeren's Hospital on Monday 21 June 2004 at 11 am. The circumstances of the accident, and the rescue of the children by passers by and members of the emergency services (for which a number received bravery awards) made them the subject of national news coverage.
The driver who crashed into the child care centre, Donald John McNeall, was 68 at the time of the accident. He was cleared of negligent driving before a magistrate's court after medical experts agreed he had had a seizure
.
In late 2004 Sophie's parents founded the Day of Difference Foundation, a charity dedicated to raising funds for research into pediatric burns and related diseases.
In January 2006, Sophie was enrolled at the publicly funded Balgowlah Heights Public School. The school was extensively refurbished to accommodate the needs of Sophie.
Due to the driver not being found liable, nobody was responsible for Sophie's extensive medical costs. However the driver's compulsory third party insurance provider, the National Roads and Motorists' Association (NRMA
), covered the costs ex-gratia. Due to this loophole in insurance coverage the NSW government introduced the Children's Special Benefit for children under 16 where no insurance coverage is available and later introduced a similar scheme to cover third parties of any age injured in an accident where nobody is liable called "Blameless Accidents".
(by her nanny with her service dog
Tara by her side) near her home in Sydney
's northern beaches, she was hit by a car and thrown 18 metres. Sophie suffered a heart attack, a broken jaw and shoulder bone, bruising to her head, numerous rib fractures and a tear to her left lung. She was treated at the Sydney Children's Hospital
, Randwick
.
She left hospital and returned home to continue her recovery on 7 June 2006.
An 80-year-old man, John George Sharman, was charged in relation to the second accident with "dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm and not giving way to a pedestrian on a crossing". Having pleaded guilty Sharman was in October 2006 placed on a good behavior bond for 18 months and suspended from driving for a year.
Sophie's father maintained that while accidents do happen, reconstruction of the pedestrian crossing in question must be commenced, due to the number of incidents occurring.
On 16 July 2006 Sophie's story was told on Channel 7's True Stories
series.
Sophie Delezio returned to classes at Balgowlah Heights Public School on Thursday, 20 July 2006.
She now aspires to be a paralympic swimmer.
has announced that it is investigating the possibility of reducing the age for mandatory medical checks for drivers from 80 to 75 years of age. It has agreed to install traffic lights at the crossing where the accident occurred.
is the father of Sophie Delezio as well as fundraiser for charity. On 1 September 2006 he was named as the 2006 Australian Father of the Year award
recipient. He was also nominated as Australian of the Year
. He is founder and present chairman of the Day of Difference Foundation, an Australian charity
focusing on the prevention and control of burn-related diseases.
In July 2010 it was announced he would be the Liberal
Candidate for the Division of Banks
. At the subsequent election he was unsuccessful despite an increase in the first preference vote in the seat for the Liberals of more than 10%.
is an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n schoolgirl
Schoolgirl
A schoolgirl is a girl attending either primary or secondary school, generally aged between four and eighteen years old.-Academic performance:This has led in some countries to calls for greater equality for education in the school system...
, the first daughter of Ron Delezio and Carolyn Martin and younger sister of Mitchell Delezio. She gained media attention when she was involved in an accident at the Roundhouse Childcare Centre in Fairlight
Fairlight, New South Wales
Fairlight is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Fairlight is located 13 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of Manly Council and is part of the Northern Beaches region....
, Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
Australia, where she suffered third-degree burns to 85% of her body and was hospitalised for several weeks where she lost both her legs. Her family has since then become major fundraisers and activists for victims who suffered conditions as Sophie's, and have also assisted in fundraising for the Children's Hospital at Westmead
Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children
The Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children is a children's hospital in Sydney, Australia. The Hospital was founded in 1880 as "The Sydney Hospital for Sick Children"...
in Westmead
Westmead, New South Wales
Westmead is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Westmead is located 26 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of the City of Parramatta and is part of the Greater Western Sydney region....
. Sophie became known by the media and the public in Sydney as "Little Sophie".
First accident
Sophie first came to the attention of the public on 15 December 2003 when she and Molly Wood, both two years old at the time, were badly injured when they were trapped under a burning car which had crashed through a gate into the Roundhouse Childcare Centre at FairlightFairlight, New South Wales
Fairlight is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Fairlight is located 13 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of Manly Council and is part of the Northern Beaches region....
in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Sophie suffered burns to 85% of her body and lost both feet, some fingers, and her right ear. Molly Wood suffered burns to 40% of her body, but has since made a good recovery.
Sophie was released from Westmead Childeren's Hospital on Monday 21 June 2004 at 11 am. The circumstances of the accident, and the rescue of the children by passers by and members of the emergency services (for which a number received bravery awards) made them the subject of national news coverage.
The driver who crashed into the child care centre, Donald John McNeall, was 68 at the time of the accident. He was cleared of negligent driving before a magistrate's court after medical experts agreed he had had a seizure
Seizure
An epileptic seizure, occasionally referred to as a fit, is defined as a transient symptom of "abnormal excessive or synchronous neuronal activity in the brain". The outward effect can be as dramatic as a wild thrashing movement or as mild as a brief loss of awareness...
.
In late 2004 Sophie's parents founded the Day of Difference Foundation, a charity dedicated to raising funds for research into pediatric burns and related diseases.
In January 2006, Sophie was enrolled at the publicly funded Balgowlah Heights Public School. The school was extensively refurbished to accommodate the needs of Sophie.
Due to the driver not being found liable, nobody was responsible for Sophie's extensive medical costs. However the driver's compulsory third party insurance provider, the National Roads and Motorists' Association (NRMA
NRMA
NRMA refers to either of two historically related Australian companies:*The National Roads and Motorists' Association, known as NRMA Motoring and Services, is a member-owned mutual organisation offering , motoring advice and other services in New South Wales and the Australian Capital...
), covered the costs ex-gratia. Due to this loophole in insurance coverage the NSW government introduced the Children's Special Benefit for children under 16 where no insurance coverage is available and later introduced a similar scheme to cover third parties of any age injured in an accident where nobody is liable called "Blameless Accidents".
Second accident
On 5 May 2006 Sophie made national headlines a second time when she was again badly injured in a road accident. While being pushed across a pedestrian crossing in a wheelchairWheelchair
A wheelchair is a chair with wheels, designed to be a replacement for walking. The device comes in variations where it is propelled by motors or by the seated occupant turning the rear wheels by hand. Often there are handles behind the seat for someone else to do the pushing...
(by her nanny with her service dog
Service dog
A service dog is a type of assistance dog specifically trained to help people who have disabilities including visual or hearing impairment, and also to help people with mental disabilities including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and severe depression...
Tara by her side) near her home in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
's northern beaches, she was hit by a car and thrown 18 metres. Sophie suffered a heart attack, a broken jaw and shoulder bone, bruising to her head, numerous rib fractures and a tear to her left lung. She was treated at the Sydney Children's Hospital
Sydney Children's Hospital
Sydney Children's Hospital is an Australian children's hospital located in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales.On 1 July 2010 it became part of the newly formed 'Sydney Children's Hospital Network incorporating the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children'.The Sydney Children's Hospital is...
, Randwick
Randwick, New South Wales
Randwick is a suburb in south-eastern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Randwick is located 6 kilometres south-east of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the City of Randwick...
.
She left hospital and returned home to continue her recovery on 7 June 2006.
An 80-year-old man, John George Sharman, was charged in relation to the second accident with "dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm and not giving way to a pedestrian on a crossing". Having pleaded guilty Sharman was in October 2006 placed on a good behavior bond for 18 months and suspended from driving for a year.
Sophie's father maintained that while accidents do happen, reconstruction of the pedestrian crossing in question must be commenced, due to the number of incidents occurring.
On 16 July 2006 Sophie's story was told on Channel 7's True Stories
True Stories (TV series)
True Stories was an Australian biographical documentary series which explored the personal journeys of ordinary, and sometimes extraordinary Australians. It is based on the ABC's Australian Story....
series.
Sophie Delezio returned to classes at Balgowlah Heights Public School on Thursday, 20 July 2006.
She now aspires to be a paralympic swimmer.
Public response
As a result of Sophie Delezio's accident over $2 million has been raised, along with heightened public awareness for the need for adequate support and services for pediatric burns patients. Some of these funds were raised at the Kids 4 Kids Benefit Concert held on 10 September 2006. The Government of New South WalesGovernment of New South Wales
The form of the Government of New South Wales is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1856, although it has been amended many times since then...
has announced that it is investigating the possibility of reducing the age for mandatory medical checks for drivers from 80 to 75 years of age. It has agreed to install traffic lights at the crossing where the accident occurred.
Ron Delezio
Ron Delezio of Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
is the father of Sophie Delezio as well as fundraiser for charity. On 1 September 2006 he was named as the 2006 Australian Father of the Year award
Australian Father Of The Year award
The Australian Father Of The Year award is an Australian award to honor and showcase a fine example of Australian fatherhood. Spanning over fifty years, the ‘Australian Father of the Year’ has been awarded to high-profile, famous fathers, from prime ministers & politicians to sportsmen and business...
recipient. He was also nominated as Australian of the Year
Australian of the Year
Since 1960 the Australian of the Year Award has been part of the celebrations surrounding Australia Day , during which time the award has grown steadily in significance to become Australia’s pre-eminent award. The Australian of the Year announcement has become a very prominent part of the annual...
. He is founder and present chairman of the Day of Difference Foundation, an Australian charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
focusing on the prevention and control of burn-related diseases.
In July 2010 it was announced he would be the Liberal
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
Candidate for the Division of Banks
Division of Banks
The Division of Banks is an Australian Electoral Division in New South Wales. The division was created in 1949 and is named for Sir Joseph Banks, the British scientist who accompanied James Cook on his voyage to Australia in 1770. It has always been based in the south-western suburbs of Sydney,...
. At the subsequent election he was unsuccessful despite an increase in the first preference vote in the seat for the Liberals of more than 10%.
Further reading
and recently published a book about his journey through the Journey, both Ron and Carolyn are both writing about their experiences. Also in this book there are several letters to Sophie that were published.External links
- Happy 10th birthday Sophie! - The Daily Telegraph
- Sophie Delezio's father lashes out at Labor
- The sister act that brought Molly home
- Site established by Sophie's parents for wellwishers' messages
- Claxton Speakers International - Ron Delezio
- Day of Difference Foundation - Charity established by Sophie's parents that raises funds for burns victims
- Sophie book coming 17 April
- Out of the Wreckage - transcript and audio of interview of Sophie's parents on the Spirit of Things on ABC Radio NationalRadio NationalABC Radio National is an Australia-wide non-commercial radio network run by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.Radio National broadcasts national programming in areas that include news and current affairs, the arts, social issues, science, drama and comedy...
(April 2009)