Sada-e-Watan
Sydney ™
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Hon.Shaoquett Moselmane’s nephew wife Abby Berro Hammoud tragic death in Malaysia
DEATH OF ABBY BERRO HAMMOUD- Page: 75
The Hon. SHAOQUETT MOSELMANE
[10.37 p.m.]: I rise to say a few words about the tragic death of my
nephew's heavily pregnant wife Ms Abby Berro Hammoud. And I do so to express my
condolences to her family and to place on record the deep gratitude that my
family feel for the compassion and support provided to us by Ms Majell Hind, the
Consul-General of the Australian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur. We are
grateful to her and to all staff in our foreign offices in Malaysia. As an
Australian I felt a deep sense of pride given the high level of care and
compassion exhibited by our Australian officials. You feel a sense of value as a
human being when treated with respect by your government and by foreign affairs
and trade institutions abroad.
The news of the sudden death of Abby, 26, and her almost seven-month unborn
baby, was oppressive. Death and the sudden brutal shock that it brought to the
unsuspecting casts long shadows of grief. The impact it will have on the
immediate family we can never comprehend. It sends the grieving family into a
deep sense of misery. Misery is what my sister and her family are now going
through and it is what my family is currently experiencing as we try to deal
with Abby's tragic death and the death of her unborn child.
One cannot even begin to contemplate what the young Ali Hammoud, 28, the
husband, a young father of a two-year-old child, had felt as he tried to wake
his wife only to find her dead. The shock and trauma is beyond imagination and
to deal with such tragedy in a foreign land while alone is beyond comprehension.
Following his notification of the resort management Malaysian authorities
entered the hotel bedroom and removed the body for autopsy. The autopsy revealed
the reason of death being an "unspecified epileptic seizure". A few cold words
describe the cause that cut short a young life short. Her seven-month-old unborn
baby was destined never to see life beyond the womb. Hussein was to be his name.
He was to be Hassan's brother and Ali's son. Tragically, it was never to be.
A few happy days at the Golden Sands Resort, Penang, Malaysia, was all they
wanted and to return home to their work and families and share their story.
Tomorrow Abby and Hussein will return in coffins with no story to tell. Tomorrow
the mother and child, in separate coffins, will return home for their burial.
For many years to come the family will mourn and remember that tragic day. My
sister, Ali's mother, cries uncontrollably. With an injured heart and a voice
scorched by the trauma and pain, she wails, "My heart bums".
In all this tragedy there is a good story I wish to tell. I wish to put on the
record the wonderful work of our Consul General, Ms Majell Hind. She showed a
great degree of professionalism as well as compassion and understanding. She
even shed a tear as she saw the still body of Abby with her baby laid lifeless
beside her. On behalf of the deceased and her family and on behalf of the
husband of the deceased and his family, Majell, I say thank you. The support you
afforded us was phenomenal. Your kindness and compassion helped ease the pain we
all feel.
Many people are not aware of the work done by consular staff and the service
they provide to Australians overseas. Millions of Australians travel overseas
each year and many return safe; sadly, some do not. The vast majority of
travellers never have reason to call an Australian consulate for help. But, of
course, there will always be Australians in difficulty overseas, and our
overseas officials are always on the lookout, eager to assist. Before I conclude
my remarks I wish to express my condolences to Reverend the Hon Fred Nile on the
passing of his wife, a former member of this House, Mrs Elaine Nile.
In conclusion, I thank Ms Majell Hind and the Australian Government, Senator the
Hon. Mark Arbib, and the Hon. Kevin Rudd's office, in particular his chief of
staff Mr Phillip Green, for the assistance they provided Mr Ali Hammoud and our
family in these difficult times.
