EXCLUSIVE
The elderly parents of Joel Cauchi are contacting every Australian who sent them a message of support after their schizophrenic son stabbed six people to death at Westfield Bondi Junction.
Michele and Andrew Cauchi have received cards and flowers from across the country in the two months since the massacre, many sent by Australians with a family member suffering from serious mental illness.
The outpouring of empathy has overwhelmed the couple, whose quiet lives in regional Queensland were turned upside down by the Sydney shopping center massacre on April 13.
Their 40-year-old son’s rampage only ended when he was shot dead by heroic police officer Inspector Amy Scott, the first police officer on the scene.
The dead were: new mother Ashlee Good, 38, bride-to-be Dawn Singleton, 25, security guard Faraz Ahmed Tahir, 30, architect Jade Young, 47, artist Pikria Darchia, 55, and economics student Yixuan Cheng, 27.
Two months after their schizophrenic son stabbed six people to death at Westfield Bondi Junction, Joel Cauchi’s parents are contacting every Australian who sent them a message of support. Michele Cauchi is pictured
A dozen other victims were taken to hospital, including Ms Good’s nine-month-old daughter, Harriet.
The Cauchis have engaged Brisbane-based mental health organization Arafmi to help them respond to all those who have expressed their condolences and understanding for the couple’s loss.
Daily Mail Australia has obtained one of the letters sent by Arafmi managing director Alex Tyson to the strangers who provided much-needed comfort to the Cauchi.
“The Cauchi family has asked Arafmi to write to you on their behalf,” Ms. Tyson wrote in the letter.
“They thank you for your kind thoughts and the personal message you sent.
“The family appreciates the continued support they have received from so many people in the community, and this includes the message from you.”
The letters are geographically tailored to recipients and include contact details for local agencies that support carers of loved ones with mental health problems.
“In messages to the family, many people shared their own experiences of supporting and caring for someone with mental health issues,” Tyson wrote.
‘Sometimes these experiences can be challenging and there are supports available in all states in Australia to support carers in these situations.’
Michele and Andrew Cauchi have received cards and flowers from sympathetic Australians, many of whom have a family member suffering from serious mental illness. The photo shows Mr Cauchi
The Cauchis have engaged Brisbane-based mental health organization Arafmi to help them respond to all those who have expressed condolences for the couple’s loss.
Daily Mail Australia spoke to the Cauchis at their Toowoomba home two weeks after the deaths of their son and his victims.
Devastated, their son could become so unhinged that he turned into a multiple murderer. They were overcome with a range of emotions, including confusion and sadness.
“First of all, I sympathize with the victims,” Ms. Cauchi said.
‘I don’t want to take anything away from the victims. I’m so sorry about what happened. Our son has unraveled over the past few months and we didn’t know it.
‘But I just want to thank the people in Australia who have sent cards and letters.
‘The majority of them have a family member with a mental illness.’
Mrs. Cauchi said at the time that many of the notes she and her husband received did not have a return address, so she could not respond to senders.
“I’m not in a position to answer them at this stage anyway,” she said.
“But I just wanted to thank you, people have been very nice.”
Joel Cauchi killed new mother Ashlee Good, 38, bride-to-be Dawn Singleton, 25, security guard Faraz Ahmed Tahir, 30, architect Jade Young, 47, artist Pikria Darchia, 55, and economics student Yixuan Cheng, 27. He is pictured during his rampage on 13th of April
The Cauchis had previously said they understood why Inspector Scott was forced to shoot their son and “we hope she is okay.”
Mr Cauchi said he and his wife had received so many flowers that when a “lovely girl from the neighborhood” arrived with more flowers, he had not shown enough appreciation.
“We have been inundated with flowers worth probably $2,000,” Mr. Cauchi said on April 26. “And food, fruit and cards.”
Mr Cauchi said he was grateful for “the compassion of this nation” but would try to deal with what his son had done “for the next 40 years”.
“As far as I’m concerned, Joel deserves what he got,” he said through tears.
His wife immediately responded, “Shoosh, don’t say that.”
“He is very upset,” Ms Cauchi said.
‘We didn’t know he had slipped so far. And even if we knew, what would we do?
“Forcibly bring our adult child home, and then what? Where would you take him? I’m sorry, it’s just really hard.
‘He did something terrible and I don’t deny that. I’m really sorry it happened.’
Ms Cauchi said New South Wales and Queensland police had been “absolutely amazing” in their dealings with the couple.
“Everyone has been very thoughtful,” she said.
“Regardless of what they may have thought about what happened, they have been very kind.
“So I just wanted to thank you.”