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The trauma inflicted on an eight-year-old Mackay boy manifested into him smothering his baby sisterâs face and attempting to strangle his four-year-old sister.
His father is in jail.
He is just one of many Mackay males aged nine to 18 referred to Mackay Womenâs Services for intervention therapy because they have personally experienced or witnessed domestic, physical and sexual violence or abuse.
Executive director Linda-Ann Northey said the cries for help from mothers, grandmothers, aunties, the Child Safety Department and police officers inundated the centre with not enough funding to go around.
She said other examples of trauma in the home including having toys broken, being yelled at, having basic needs such as food and blankets withdrawn as punishment, and not being provided with basic love and healthy relationships.
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Subscriber only Maria Martin knew life was going to be difficult with her beautiful baby girl even while she was still in utero. The Mackay mum had to temporarily relocate to Brisbane during pregnancy for a specialist medical team to closely monitored her when her daughter Stella had severe narrowing of the aorta. But three years later, the mother-daughter duo are celebrating in yellow as they mark 12 months free of surgeries with a meet-and-greet and concert with the Wiggles. She s had three open heart surgeries in three years, Ms Martin said. It s been a really tough journey and she s got developmental milestones.