Launch Speeches

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MSF Launch – Speech
Leigh Drennan

When news of Matt’s death, spread around, it affected everyone that knew him. People did not even have to know him well to be affected by his death. Matt’s death was a tragic and unnecessary waste of life. A scar has been left and his death will continue to affect people that knew him for a long time to come.

The scary thing is that Matt’s death was not a one off or a freak incident. This sort of thing is happening regularly. However this foundation aims to make a real impact in stopping this type of thing from occurring.

Today’s focus is not on how Matt died; however, I would like to give you some idea of the amazing person that we lost. To me and so many others, Matt was the person that brought light to our lives on so many occasions. There was never a dull moment when you were around Matt. He was one of the few people I know that was capable of cheering people up no matter what had happened to them. It was impossible to be miserable around Matt because he was never miserable. He was always happy and upbeat. You always had the feeling when you were around Matt that he just enjoyed life. He was a great person to be around.

The other thing that Matt had going for him was his amazing sporting ability. This is how I met Matt in the first place. We played touch in the same team for many years. Therefore I was able to be witness to some of the amazing things he did on the field. Probably the story that sticks in my mind the most as typical Matt, and the story I have told before and will always tell people came in the last game of touch that he ever played.

We were losing 4 – 3 with about 5 minutes to go when Matt got the ball on one wing. As soon as he got the ball he did what most 8-year-old kids would do in a game and took off sideways. It is fairly safe to say that everyone on the field including the opposition was wondering what he was doing. However it seemed Matt had a plan although he had only succeeded in losing us metres as he raced towards the other sideline. To everyone’s surprise Matt eventually dived over in the corner on the opposite wing to where he got the ball. We shouldn’t have really been surprised though because that is just the way Matt did things. He wasn’t one to put any major amount of thoughts into the things he did; he just acted straight off the top of his head. However the things he did always seemed to work for him.

It was fitting that he played so well in his last game because he went out a legend, and that’s exactly what he was.

However today focus is on what is happening in response to Matt’s tragic death. For me personally this foundation has already done so much. Being a part of the Matthew Stanley Foundation makes me feel that I am doing something good. It gives me the sense that although Matt’s death was so tragic and sudden something good is being done in response to it. It has certainly made dealing with Matt’s death a whole lot easier. Every time I think about Matt and the way he died I am able to say to myself “Some good is going to come out of this.”

This foundation aims to address some major issues through education programs and speakers. The main focuses include safe partying, underage drinking and youth violence. These issues have been with us for a long time and it has taken a tragedy like this to make everyone aware of them. However if this foundation achieves the goals it has set than every young member of society will benefit.

We do not want to wait for more of these deaths to occur before people start to sit up and take notice. It has happened in the past and it is something that could happen to anyone.  As all parts of society collaborate around the goals of the foundation, we will be working towards a society where families and friends will never have to go through the same pain and despair that those who knew Matt Stanley have been through. 
MSF Launch – Speech
Carmen Hurst

Someone once said, a single rose can be my garden – a single friend, my world.  I know for sure that I’m not the only person who would think of Matt as that friend, and it’s safe to say that losing him has changed our world.  For someone who has not lost someone so special to them, it is not possible to understand the grief.  Especially when losing them was something that should not have happened. 

Violence is not acceptable.  One punch can kill.  That’s all it can take to end a life and devastate hundreds of others.  The Matthew Stanley Foundation is here to educate.  It is the catalyst for a change that is not possible without the help of the community.  We want to live in a safe place and we want to stop others from having to feel the pain that we live with.  It starts with youth culture.  Life is something to be valued, cherished and other people’s lives must be treated with respect.  It is not a game. We are not invincible.  And it can happen to anyone.  We had to find out the hard way.  You don’t want this to happen to you; take our word for it. 

Violence must simply not be an option.  It is up to our generation to say this behaviour is not acceptable.  We have to change.  We have to learn from this.  To quote Helen Keller, Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.  The Matthew Stanley Foundation is here to initiate this change.  Because violence is never the answer.  Because life is precious and it can happen to anyone.  But mostly, because it shouldn’t be possible to go to a party and never come home. 

While Matthew was alive he made a difference to everyone who knew him, and although he has tragically lost the chance to live the rest of his life, he has not lost the chance to make a positive impact on others.  Through the Foundation, we can ensure that Matt continues to make a difference.
MSF Launch – Speech
Bec Ringma

 The Matthew Stanley Foundation is truly unique. It is a pleasure to be involved and to be here today. Except that Matthew Stanley is dead because of youth violence.
Last year on September 24th, my friend Matt was killed at an Alexandra Hills party. He was bashed to death by people he didn’t even know. This is why we now need to stand up and stop youth violence from happening.

There are many ways that Matt has touched our lives and everyone’s memory of Matt is different. But to me, Matt will always remain in my heart. He taught me so much from being a great friend on and off the touch field to a respectful, honourable, loving hum being and I will never forget it. Just being one of his friends is an absolute honour but knowing that I will never see him again is the hardest thing I have had to realize.

Knowing the Stanley family has also been an honour. They have always been there for me and are also such a giving family. I can’t relate to what pain they are going through but I am trying my best to help prevent youth violence. So other families do not have to go through what they have and will always continue to face.

We want people to understand that fighting in parties is not something to be proud of. We want people to know that they don’t have to prove themselves by fighting someone. We want them to know that it’s a better decision to back down and walk away – that doing so is a true act of courage and a true display of character. That very act can be a decision for life: it could be your life, or your friend’s life, or someone else’s life that you save.

While we all have to understand that youth violence is now becoming very common. We want people to understand that violence isn’t a way of sorting out our differences but talking it out will give you a better understanding and lead to better and safer results for all concerned. We all have to understand that fighting is a choice, and it’s your choice to help stop it.

In a sense, we should not need something like the Matthew Stanley Foundation. In an ideal world we would all be looking out for one another and help prevent youth violence. In an ideal world, Matt would not be dead. But he did die that night. And so today we are faced with a choice: It is now our choice to help prevent youth violence. I’ve already made my choice, which is why I am up here today.