Choices and Consequences
Leafy’s Legacy is a charity, but to understand why it exists, you need to understand my son, Chris… and his story. And I want to share that story honestly.
The Car Crash
In 2004, when Chris was just 19, he was involved as a driver in a motor vehicle accident that resulted in the loss of five lives and injuries to five others, including himself.
It was a devastating, life-altering tragedy.
There are no words that can take away what happened that night, and our hearts have always remained with the families who lost loved ones.
That moment changed everything—for them, for Chris, and for us as a family.
I think it’s important that you hear from Chris himself—not just from me as his mum.
Accountability & Prison Journey
Chris took responsibility for his actions.
As you heard, two years after the crash, he was sentenced to eight years in prison. He served six, followed by two on parole.
As a parent, navigating the prison system is something you never imagine you’ll have to do. It’s confronting, it’s emotional, and it tests you in ways you don’t expect.
But within that environment, Chris made a decision.
He chose not to waste that time.
He also chose not to condemn himself to the lifestyle choice that landed him in prison, but to take a different path by taking every opportunity presented to him to come out a better person and not be judged by one tragic mistake.
He completed courses, got involved in sport, mentored others, and did everything he could to work on himself and maintain his mental health. He became a man….. He still wasn’t perfect!
At the same time, as a mother who was cloaked in the blanket of grief and shame and many other emotions, it was at times tough to keep going, but I knew I had to throw off that cloak and do something positive
I began speaking in schools and youth programs about risk, choices, and consequences—because we both knew how poor choices and how quickly one decision can change lives forever.
Beyond the ordinary
When Chris was released, he wanted to move on but he never forgot, neither did I, and he wanted to give back.
He became involved in programs like RAC BStreetSmart, speaking to young people about road safety and the real consequences of poor decisions. The video you watched was part of this program played to 6,000 upper school students in 2015.
What you saw in the video was a young man who carried deep remorse .He never forgot what happened. Not for a single day. But he made a conscious choice to turn that into something meaningful—to help prevent other families from experiencing the same pain.
After prison, Chris built a life and for us, that’s where his legacy truly began to take shape
For us, that’s where his legacy truly began to take shape
His friends will say he was strong physically, emotionally and mentally; loyal, and he taught them to pick themselves up and keep going. He was a listener and a comforter.
Some people have questioned whether we should do this in Chris’s name.
But for us, legacy isn’t about perfection.
It’s about what someone does with their life after their worst moment.
Chris showed remorse.
He took responsibility.
And he tried—genuinely—to make a difference.
And we are proud of that.
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