On Wednesday morning, Australians were relieved to find out that four-year-old Cleo Smith had been found alive and well after she went missing over two weeks ago.
The Western Australian Police confirmed the reports, and social media was quickly flooded with joyful posts celebrating the news.
A slew of celebrities including Lisa Wilkinson, David Campbell, Rebecca Gibney also shared their relief but it was Jesinta Franklin’s Instagram post that was particularly thought-provoking.
The model and mum-of-two re-posted news site The Daily Aus’ post about the news, and wrote, “The best news!! I had tears in my eyes when I read this.”
However, in a separate and now-deleted story afterwards, Jesinta remarked on “the disparity” between how the media and police react to missing white and Indigenous children.
.jpg?resize=380%2C285)
“Without taking away from the joy of finding a missing child alive and well, I can’t help but think about the disparity that exists in this country between missing children who are white and Indigenous children when it comes to the visibility and coverage of the case,” she began.
Jesinta shared her thoughts on how Australia reports on missing children.
(Credit: Instagram)“I have read so many heartbreaking stories of missing Indigenous children that garner hardly any media coverage or the social media attention that a case like Cleo’s did.
“I have no doubt the widespread broadcasting of information in regards to the case assisted the phenomenal efforts of the WA police force in locating this beautiful little girl and reuniting her with her family.
“Posting this because I think we need to do better for all children who go missing and their families,” she finished.
“I have read so many heartbreaking stories of missing Indigenous children that garner hardly any media coverage.”
(Credit: Instagram)Jesinta is married to Sydney Swans star Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin, a proud Indigenous man with whom she shares one-year-old daughter Tullulah and son, Rocky, seven months.
Earlier this year, she spoke to Marie Claire about raising her First Nations children.
“Obviously, I’m guided by Buddy, but I’ve taken the initiative to educate myself so I can be the best mum to our First Nations babies and the best ally I can be,” she told the publication.
“I feel like I have a big responsibility to ensure my kids can connect to culture and can continue to share their history and be the storytellers for the next generation.”
“I’m guided by Buddy, but I’ve taken the initiative to educate myself.”
(Credit: Instagram)The discovery of four-year-old Cleo, was announced by WA Police Deputy Commissioner Col Blanch, and he shared information about the moment she was found.
“One of the officers picked her up into his arms and asked her, ‘What’s your name?’
“She said, ‘My name is Cleo.'”
A 36-year-old man has been taken into police custody, but charges have yet to be made.
Today was a miracle day.
(Credit: Instagram/WA Police)It couldn’t have been a more perfect end to the day when the WA police shared a picture of Cleo waving at the camera with an icy pole on their Instagram to celebrate her safe discovery.
They captioned the adorable snap, “The miracle we all hoped for ❤️.”
.jpg?fit=105%2C105){kind=avatar}
