Australian Appelbee family have a G’day in Leinster House!
CELT EXCLUSIVE
The Appelbee family, who hit the headlines earlier this year for their dramatic sea rescue in Western Australia, received a heroes’ welcome from Oireachtas members at Leinster House yesterday (Tuesday). The Celt joined them at the Dáil...
The now international adventures of mum Joanne, Austin (14), Beau (13) and Grace (8) saw them reunited with their family, the Cunninghams in Magheracloone, this month, and enjoying a hectic schedule of appearances normally reserved for celebrities and super stars.
But the Appelbees are indeed stars and have captured the hearts at home and abroad.
Brave teen Austin, who swam for four kilometres and ran a further two to save his family from drowning, was congratulated by Oireachtas members at Leinster House yesterday.
The Taoiseach Micheál Martin, who admitted he had been "captivated" by their story, praised Austin's bravery, describing it as "a tremendous act of individual courage and love” and also congratulated all the family remembers for remaining calm throughout their 10-hour ordeal on the sea.
Tánaiste Simon Harris, who presented Austin with a Monaghan jersey, said his actions had demonstrated "the very best of human endurance, resilience and decency".
It's been a whirlwind for the family since they found themselves on the couch of the Late Late Show earlier this month to surprise Joanne's parents Doreen and Packie Cunningham in what made for heartwarming TV; and later enjoyed a civic reception in their honour in Carrickmacross.
Sadly, the Appelbees fly back to Perth on Wednesday but not before they got a tour of Government buildings.
The Appelbee entourage arrived at around 12:30pm and availed of the obligatory photo opportunity on the plinth. Oireachtas representatives Senator Robbie Gallagher (FF), Deputy Cathy Bennett (SF) and Deputy Brendan Smith (FF) were all there to welcome them.
The visit was organised by Fine Gael Deputy David Maxwell who, along with Cllr Peter Conlon, accompanied the family for the duration of their visit.
Joanne’s mother Doreen was delighted to be shown Leinster House by Deputy Maxwell and to meet many of the politicians she had only seen previously on TV.
Their first stop was an informal meeting with Taoiseach Micheál Martin, who spoke with the family for a few minutes before posing for photographs with them. He gave them a brief history of Government Buildings. The children received goodie bags.
Speaking exclusively to The Anglo-Celt, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said: “I’m delighted to meet the Appleby family because, when it happened, it was on our radio stations and television; I was really captivated by it.
"I want to pay tribute to Austin’s bravery and persistence. It's a tremendous lesson to everybody to stay calm in the waters. There is hope and you can make it through. Everybody in this situation kept calm. To me, as someone who swims in the sea, I take a positive from it in the sense that, while accidents can happen, you can, if you apply certain approaches, come out of it.
"It was a very serious situation, but calmness and perseverance mattered. We can all do it. We don't have to be lifeguard swimmers to survive. It was a tremendous act of individual courage and love.”
Then the family were treated to a delicious lunch in the guest restaurant on-site, before being whisked off again to meet Tánaiste Simon Harris, who had a brief sit-down with the family where he engaged with all of them. He presented Austin with a very unique gift, a Monaghan jersey signed by Fine Gael Cabinet members. He said he never thought he would see the day where he’d be signing a Monaghan jersey!
Commenting on the visit, he said: “It's incredible when you hear the bravery of people in their everyday life. I suppose when something happens to your family you never know how you'll respond. But to see Austin at the age of 13, swim four kilometres in a really difficult situation to raise the alarm and effectively save the life of his mum, his brother and his sister … it’s the very best of human endurance, resilience and decency. What an incredible thing to be able to say, now at 14 years of age, you've saved lives. It's just an honour to actually get to meet him in person and to recognise him here today in Government Buildings.”
When Austin and the Appelbees entered both Houses of the Oireachtas, their presence was acknowledged. Austin took his celebrity status in his stride, although he couldn’t walk very far without being stopped, congratulated and asked for a photograph by Oireachtas representatives of all parties and none, even the security personnel on the gate were delighted to meet him.
Deputy David Maxwell was thrilled that the family accepted the invitation he extended to them at Monaghan Co Council’s civic reception in their honour last week: “I’m delighted that Austin and the family could come up today. I think it's been a great day. He's met the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and loads of Cabinet Ministers and Deputies. They all know his story. They've all heard of him. Getting a Monaghan jersey signed by the Tánaiste and the Cabinet is something to treasure. Not too many people will have that!
"It's great that we can give him the recognition that he so richly deserves for the heroic efforts, only for him four lives could have been lost. He's had recognition from Monaghan Co Council and now Dáil Éireann. I think the President could be his next visit. I’m delighted to be able to host Austin, his family and his granny here and I wish them a safe journey back to Australia.”
Austin, who is nominated for both Young Australian of the Year and the President’s Distinguished Award over here, commenting on his day in Leinster House said: “It was very interesting to go through all the offices and there was a lot of people happy to see us.”
His mother Joanne added: “I would like to thank Deputy David Maxwell for taking us up and organising it all, Cllr Peter Conlon for accompanying us too. It was an absolute honour to be here and something I never thought would happen, meeting the Taoiseach and Tánaiste today was a privilege. I was blown away. I know it doesn't register with the kids yet because they're so young. It'll take a few years before they realise the significance of what they've gotten presented with today and who they've met.”