Nathan Stewart

Story

A mother's cry for help DHS cover up Nathan Stewart's death in Victoria

The following preserves the family's account and the attributed archived source material.

A mother's cry for help DHS cover up Nathan Stewart's death in Victoria

Archived Post 2012-02-12 ·

Michelle Stewart talks about the death of her son Nathan Stewart under suspicious circumstances in foster carer supervised by the department of human services in Victoria (DHS Vic)

I have been on Facebook a few years now in the hope that I may find some Justice, some peace and some closure relating to the death of my beautiful gentle son Nathan.

I hoped in getting some of that in my life, in return I could give back to society, children & parents that are enduring what I and especially what my son had gone through and also it would be a way of honouring Nathan and the life that he would have had and was entitled to, like all children deserve & all parents dream of their children having in his life.

Though in his young life it was not meant to be and not by natural causes or by accident, but taken by the hand of another and Government Departments that are there to protect our children when in a position of a parent such as Child Protection/DHS.

In loving Memory of Nathan Stewart 4-1-1989 to 3-4-2005 who Died in the Care of Victoria Department of Human Services

I wanted to spread awareness to others in the hope if one child’s life could be saved, then for all the heartache, pain and anguish I endure and for the life that was cut short of my beloved son and all he would have been in his life, then just maybe I would find some solace on this journey in knowing Nathan had made a difference and has not died in vain.
I have put up a Facebook site, a webpage and you-tube videos and continued to try and get help and spread awareness, I have written letters and emails to various people in high profile places, in Government Departments and Media, Experts on various things and even spoken to a many, done my own investigations & retrieved crucial evidence overlooked even by our own Police Force, I have not stopped over the years and tried my best as a Mother and to the best of my ability to try and get some help, to no avail and to the detriment of my health and my quality of life.

I won’t ever stop, nor give up because I love my son and no one has seen and heard what I have, no parent would stop if they knew what I know, if loosing Nath was not hard enough and the hardest thing to drag myself through, to have seen and read and know what I have has had me close to such despair and heartache that I on occasions I have been so close to ending my life, that it took every bit of strength and the love I have for my beautiful daughter to pull myself back up.
Even if it meant there were weeks on end I wouldn’t even go outside my front door to see if the mail was in the letter box, or the sun was shining outside or cared, I was in a dark place, that had only made my journey harder because of my lack of tolerance and being sensitive to antidepressants ,so I have no help apart from what I have within and in my times of terrible anguish and frustration I cry myself to sleep, not wanting to wake, only to wake knowing I had to make a effort and do it for those that love and need me and those who I love and need.

Four children who have died due to Child Safety negligence in Australia

I have yelled as loud as one can, I have pleaded on my Facebook wall and even asked for help, I have sent out multiple messages and have been on Facebook like a broken record to have nothing gained, nor any help or seldom an offer of help.
I have struggled and suspect in many ways in my life will continue to struggle.

I have had experts and those who have written articles on my friend’s lists, to be their one minute and gone the next, merely because of the difference between the so called Family Law and Children’s Courts and the differences, despite the fact both are dealing with Mothers and Fathers but more importantly Children.

I have had those as Friends on my Facebook that were affiliated with those that could offer some solace or closure regarding unanswered questions and especially those regarding whether my son was being sexually abused, such a little ask from those that know and have for years spent their life educating others.
I am only asking what any other Mother or Father would want if Nathan was their son, for some time to be given to us & be able to review what I have and maybe make a difference, not just to those Children whom are living ,but also to those whom are not that also deserve as much time and respect and dignity, because Children like my son are examples of how this system fails and what changes can be made so that these failures never occur again or the very least be somewhat prevented, even if one child’s life is spared or children’s placements are reviewed and returned home with other supports put in place then destroying a family unit that is meant to be together,then to our detriment we have made a difference and Nath has made his mark.

In five and a half years, I have never received one answer to a question I have had from anyone, regarding the lingering questions that have haunted & prevented me moving on or getting some form of closure.
No closure, no peace and no solace, can you imagine being a mother desperately searching for not only some justice no matter how small, but at least one answer with an explanation that your can put to rest in your heart and soul.

JUST ONE ,If you believed your child was abused and for that belief you were ridiculed and criticized and mocked even laughed at during case meetings by Government officials and even worse had those beliefs put to the child you loved and adored “where they were told your mother thinks you are in a relationship with the carer & him being present and you were diagnosed as having a mental illness because of such allegations & told that you were jealous of that relationship, or it may even be because of your own childhood sexual abuse or the years of Domestic violence, would you not merely want to know or have someone at least answer that (one question) if you were to provide them with all the material relevant and at the very least allow some justice there.

I know my son was abused and I know that is why my son was left to die, my son was left to die to silence him and as his mother I believe he suffered enough and then only to have us suffer more with no charges laid. No expert opinions, no one to make a difference, no one to take a stand.
I am asking one last time for the love of Nathan and for what is to be learnt and for some closure despite how small,for someone to be able to review what I have and give an expert opinion in this area and to take the time to only imagine being in my position loving my son as all Mothers do. For me as a mother my children are the only thing I know without a shadow of a doubt I would die for and are the only reason I am here today.

I am merely a mother and not a expert, but I do I know there is more than ample evidence to at least make a expert determination with what I do have.So please as a mother trying to find some justice and some closure can you please help me with this request and maybe then, just maybe Nathans voice may be heard and some justice and peace within will give me a new found hope.
Hope is what gives us strength and faith in life and people.

In loving memory of angel children who have died in foster care or from abuse

Admin:One child's life makes every difference. Nathan's Justice campaign uses one child's life, the dearest one child to his mother, michelle stewart, to spread awareness of needed publicity for docs victims, many of whom are networked on facebook for their needed publicity and to share helpful websites on child safety government departments, child protection, false reports, foster care, and to help remember every child who has died in foster care and are docs child protection government departments victims of child protection. With none of the needed publicity for DoCS victims to spread awareness, the child protection government departments (DoCS) and their false reports continue to ensure that another loving mother of father will know what it feels like to lose the life of a child, and be left with no help after the loss of their son or daughter.

One child's life is all it takes to spread awareness and secure the needed publicity for docs victims and the helpful websites for docs victims, child protection and foster care related, but none of which are provided by the government departments in charge of foster care and child protection.

In loving Memory of Nathan Stewart 4-1-1989 to 3-4-2005 who Died in the Care of Victoria Department of Human Services

Archived Post 2012-02-12 ·

GENERAL CASE NOTE:
CLIENT NAME: Nathan Stewart (12930/96)
CONTACT DATE/TIME: 26/8/2004 at 2.42pm
DESCRIPTION:Consultation regarding major placement issues.
ENTERED BY: Julie O'Brien
Consultation occurred between Julie O’Brien, case planner and Nicola Ross,team leader.

Reference:
. The recent issues about Graeme's behaviour.
. The issues identified by the school over recent weeks concerning Graeme.
. The issues identified by the school this afternoon concerning Graeme.
. CONCERN ABOUT NATHAN'S EMOTIONAL WELL BEING AND DEVELOPMENT
. The letter received today from Graeme indicating non-cooperation towards DHS.

Please refer to separate case notes for the above issues over recent weeks

It was agreed that currently the Department HAS NO ABILITY TO EXERCISE ITS DUTY OF CARE UNDER THE CUSTODY TO SECRETARY ORDER as the placement is EMOTIONALLY ABUSIVE AND UNSTABLE AND POTENTIALLY PHYSICALLY UNSAFE FOR NATHAN AS WELL.

Whilst Graeme has been communicating with the Department over recent weeks to some extent, this cooperation has deteriorated dramatically and there is currently no confidence that Graeme will acknowledge the placement issues ,nor work alongside DHS to remedy these.

Additionally, it seems that Nathan has turned against the Department and would not go to a safer and more appropriate placement ,e.g. an ACP. It is likely that Graeme has contributed to Nathan's turn around position, either directly or indirectly.

There is no capacity to elicit the support of the parent (Michelle) to assist with the above dilemmas, as she is very anti DHS .

Therefore, it has been agreed (SUBJECT TO LEGAL ADVICE) that we proceed along the following lines:

.To continue to offer Graeme support and to work on the identified placement issues
(Given that Nathan is an adolescent and will not leave Graeme's care easily nor would he remain at an alternative placement should he agree to go there but not choose to stay there)

.If the above option is not possible or workable, then offer Nathan an ACP with supports(as there is always the chance that he may agree to give it a try, also we need to offer him as much support as possible prior to removing all protective intervention around him)

.Should neither of the above be possible or workable, then we will seek legal advice about the option of returning to Court to revoke the Custody to the Secretary Order and have no further Statutory involvement, given that the current order is "unworkable" and we are unable to protect the child or exercise our duty of care.

THEY WENT TO COURT IN JANUARY 2005 & LIED ABOUT THE TRUE NATURE OF HIS CIRCUMSTANCES NOT INCLUDING MAJOR CONCERNS BY HIS MOTHER,HIS SCHOOL AND ANOTHER AGENCY TO INVESTIGATE THE PLACEMENT & HE WAS LEFT UNALLOCATED BECAUSE HE WOULD NOT AGREE TO A GUARDIANSHIP ORDER.

Additional Archived Family Account · 2012-02-12

This child was sixteen, and in foster care. This was not due to bad parenting, but by choice. This sixteen year old boy chose to stay with this foster carer.

This is the site that the boy Nathan's mother has built for him.
http://www.nathansjustice.com/

Here is Nathan's mothers version of what has happened, taken from this site.

May this be shared with the AUSTRALIAN people and with people all over the WORLD. I am hoping in the face of humanity people will open their hearts and it be PETITION with me to no longer allow Nathan to be silenced. I hope his voice will finally be heard and the FIGHT for his JUSTICE OCCUR. We all need to make this life a safer place, for the best part of who we are, our children. My beautiful baby boy was taken from me avoidably too soon and if the tragic loss of his life can save another in a similar position, his death will not be completely in vain. The truth needs to be heard.

Nathan was only 16 years old when his life was cut short by a stab wound to the heart. He was in the care of Graham McLeish, now known as Mark McLennan.

THIS MAN IS RESPONSIBLE FOR NATHANS DEATH AND CHARGES NEED TO BE LAYED.
These are the findings of the Coronial Inquest into Nathans death. Case No: 1134/05

‘222. It is from this point on that the evidence Mr. McLeish’s contribution to Nathan’s death becomes more overwhelming. The evidence is that Mr. McLeish sought medical assistance for Nathan in the immediate wake of the injury. However, the evidence also is his failure to tell the true history of Nathan’s injury to the hospital misled the medical investigations. The evidence is that the accurate history of would have caused a different medical response and may well have resulted in the true extent of Nathan’s injury being discovered on his first presentation.’

?. The evidence is that Nathan’s prospects of survival from that injury with appropriate diagnosis and timely treatment were not in question. Mr. McLeish, despite his own views about what the hospital needed to know was told by his own friend whose counsel he sought early that morning that he should tell the truth. Throughout the day he made several calls seeking medical advice. It was all the same advice. Advice that he should return Nathan to the hospital and have him re assessed. Advice he did not take at any point up until it was too late. Even after Nathan lapsed into unconsciousness Mr. McLeish did not tell the truth to the treating paramedics or doctors’

‘225. I conclude from the weight of the evidence that had Nathan been returned to the hospital earlier in the day, even in the wake of the call McLeish made at about 2pm and then given a truth of the mechanism of Nathan’s injury Nathan’s prospects of a correct diagnosis and appropriate treatment and therefore survival would have been reasonable.

?. …In my view Graham McLeish’s failure to give a true account to the hospital of Nathan’s mechanism of injury, compounded by his failure to return Nathan to the hospital in circumstances where his condition remained unimproved and he was sufficiently worried to be calling for advice and receiving advice to return Nathan to the hospital contributed to Nathan’s death’ .

WHY HAS THIS MAN, 4 YEARS AFTER NATHAN DIED, STILL NOT BEEN HELD ACCOUNTABLE IN A COURT OF LAW FOR THE DEATH OF MY SON?

BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND NATHAN'S FINAL DAYS

Grahame McLeish, who was nominated as being adequate by the department of HUMAN SERVICES DANDENONG, had taken Nathan to hospital on the 31st of March, 2005 with a wound to his chest and wounds to his wrist SAYING that Nathan had been running while wearing socks to turn up his stereo and had slipped and fallen into a Louvre window which broke and that is how Nathan sustained his injuries. THAT was proven in the Coronial Inquest TO BE A LIE.

Nathan was driven to the hospital by Graham McLeish who did not call an ambulance.
Nathan was taken in via wheelchair, described as being pale, very distressed, gagging and vomiting violently and wretched.

McLeish told medical staff he was Nathan’s stepfather. THAT IS A LIE.

Nathan was put onto oxygen and treated for a NON-PENETRATING chest wound (falling glass) as the incident history McLeish supplied had implied this was the case. IT WAS NOT

Nathan’s injury had been in fact caused by an 8cm KNIFE.

Nathan needed treatment for a PENETRATING chest would as the knife had actually been plunged into him 6cm deep and wounding his heart.

Nathan did not communicate with medical staff as McLeish insisted on doing all the talking. He only answered monosyllabically to where the pain was in his chest. The medical staff reported to the Coronial Inquest that they found it odd McLeish did not leave Nathan’s side AT ALL.

Nathan’s chest was sutured and was released back into McLeish’s care after he was regarded as stable. He was still unwell, vomiting some bilious fluid as he left and dozing due to the morphine that he was given a few times in relation to his pain. He did not appear to be a child ready to go home.

Nathan was in fact DYING from internal bleeding.

The knife, not glass as reported by McLeish, had sliced 6mm through his heart. The skin, cartilage and muscle tissue in the chest area is described as tough like leather. To penetrate this area of the body requires tremendous and deliberate force.

Nathan returned home with McLeish at 8.45 am. McLeish called the hospital later that day at 2pm as Nathan was still vomiting. He was told to bring Nathan back. HE DID NOT.

At 6.30pm Nathan was still very ill and McLeish called a locum service for a doctor to see Nathan. He was told it was a 3-4 hour wait and was advised by the nurse who took the call, to take Nathan back to the hospital. HE DID NOT

At 10.00pm again McLeish called the hospital reporting Nathan was very ill. The nurse who took the call reported hearing noises and McLeish said Nathan had fallen out of bed. The nurse advised him to bring him back to hospital. HE DID NOT.

At 10.25pm finally McLeish called and ambulance as Nathan’s heart had stopped. Paramedics were able to restore circulation however Nathan had lost a considerable amount of blood and been without oxygen for a prolonged period of time. Nathan’s neurological state was very poor and his pupils were unresponsive to light.
Nathan was pronounced dead by two doctors and life support was withdrawn at 6.05 pm on the 3rd of April, 2005.

FACTS.

If the injury was known by doctors was to be caused by a knife different investigations and treatments would have been CONDUCTED by the hospital. Nathan would have had the URGENT MEDICAL ATTENTION he required. He WOULD have made a full recovery. HE WOULD still be here today.

MCLEISH WAS FULLY AWARE OF THE NATURE OF HIS INJURY AND THE FACT IT WAS A KNIFE.

NATHAN BECAME CRITICALLY ILL OVER A 10 HOUR PERIOD AND LAY DYING WHILE MCLEISH KEPT LYING.

WHY?? WHAT DID HE HAVE TO HIDE?

EVIDENCE OF MCLEISH’S CONTRIBUTION AND GROSS MISCONDUCT & CRIMINAL NEGLIGENCE.

1. Here was a man fully aware of the nature of Nathans injury and refused to take him to hospital 3 times when advised to. McLeish has been fraudulent in the past and portrayed himself as a solicitor involved in criminal and family law for many, many years. He was in fact a law clerk. He lied about Nathan’s injury; he lied about being Nathan’s father. What else is he lying about?

2.THERE WAS A DOCTORS SURGERY DIRECTLY ACROSS THE ROAD THAT WAS OPEN THAT EVENING ,TO JUST AFTER 5PM,where he had been himself before and could have gone and sought urgent medical attention ,either by taking Nathan there or requesting a doctor come see Nathan as he lay in bed incapacitated and critically ill.

3.HE HAD MADE A PHONE CALL TO THE HOSPITAL AT 2PM CONCERNED ABOUT NATHANS VOMITING ALL DAY AND WAS ASKED IF HE WAS CONCERNED TO BRING HIM BACK AND HIS VOMITING WAS UNLIKELY DUE TO MORPHINE BECAUSE OF THE TIME THAT HAD LAPSED AND SAID HE WAS HIS.. FATHER...

4. THE HOSPITAL WAS A 7 MINIUTE DRIVE OR LESS.

5.NATHAN WAS SO CRITICALLY ILL, THAT MCLEISH ORDED HIMSELF A PIZZA AND DECIDED TO EAT IT DOWN STAIRS AS NATHAN WAS SO ILL AND VOMITING & DRY WREACHING,WAS DESRCIBED AS SWEATY AND PALE,WOULD HAVE, I IMAGINE BEEN FAR MORE DISTRESSED THAN HE WAS IN HOSPITAL ON HIS FIRST ADMISSION AS HE WAS GETTING WORSE NOT BETTER AND DYING.
6. MCLEISH BURNT NATHAN’S T/SHIRT, HIS DIARY ……HIS EXPLANATION WAS THAT THE T/SHIRT WAS BLOODIED AND YET DIDN’T BURN NATHANS BLOODIED PANTS OR SOCKS??

7. WHEN NATHAN PRESENTED THE FIRST TIME TO THE HOSPITAL THE WOUND WAS GAPING BUT DRY AND HIS WRIST WOUNDS WERE ALSO CLEAN AND DRY AND HE WAS WEARING A CLEAN T/SHIRT WITH NO BLOOD ON IT……

8. EVIDENCE BY A PROFESSIONAL SAID HE WAS SURPRISED AT NATHANS CHEST WOUND BEING DRY & WOULD HAVE EXPECTED IT TO HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY BLEEDING FOR 45 MINIUTES OR MORE, which allows you to see that Nathan wasn’t taken straight away to hospital and was instead cleaned of blood loss evidence. Bare in mind he was described as being wretched and violently vomiting and been brought in via a wheel chair. How much had he suffered before finally getting medical attention?

9. WHY DID MCLEISH BREAK THE WINDOW TO CORROBORATE HIS STORY TO THE POLICE!!!!

PROSECUTIONATHAN AND I NEED YOU, YOUR FRIENDS AND YOUR FAMILIES HELP TO HAVE ALL THESE QUESTIONS ANSWERED OF GRAHAM MCLEISH IN A COURT OF LAW. THE CORONIAL INQUEST’S RECOMMENDATIONS HAVE NOT YET BEEN PASSED ONTO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC NS. WHY NOT? WE NEED 18,000 SIGNATURES ON OUR PETITION THAT WILL BE SENT TO PARLIMENT, THE DPP AND THE PREMIER’S OFFICE IN VICTORIA. PLEASE JOIN US IN SENDING A MESSAGE TO OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT DESPITE THE MONETARY COST OF A TRIAL, ONE LIFE, NATHAN’S LIFE AND NATHAN’S JUSTICE IS PRICELESS.
PLEASE CLICK ON THE PETITION LINK AND SIGN YOUR NAME.
My family and I sincerely thank you for taking the time.
Michelle and Nathan Stewart.