Danny Abdallah and the nine other Aussies attending the Queen's funeral – including 2022 Senior Australian of the Year
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A man whose three children were killed in a horrific car crash has spoken out about receiving an unexpected phone call from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese inviting him to the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.
One of the invited Aussie guests making the trip to London for Her Majesty's farewell is Danny Abdallah, the father from Sydney who publicly forgave the drugged and intoxicated motorist who killed three of his children.
In 2020, a terrible car accident claimed the lives of Danny and Leila's three children and a cousin. Credit: News Corp.
Mr Abdallah, the co-founder of the i4give Foundation, is one of the ten 'everyday Australians' who, as a result of their 'exceptional achievements’, will go to London to attend the British monarch's farewell with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and other dignitaries.
In the two years since losing three of their six children—as well as their cousin—when a drunk driver struck them as they were walking in the Sydney suburb of Oatlands on February 1, 2020, Danny and his wife Leila have shown tremendous love and bravery.
Leila and Danny, proud parents of their seventh child, Selina, who was born in March of this year, expressed their thanks and acknowledgement for being invited to the Queen's funeral in a recent Instagram post.
'It is a great honour to be chosen to represent the country at the funeral of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, and I am grateful to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for inviting me to attend on behalf of all Australians,' Danny said in a statement.
'Her Majesty was a woman of deep Christian faith who demonstrated that great leaders commit themselves to the service of their people. I will carry the prayers, gratitude and well wishes of all Australians with me to her funeral.'
Danny and Leila's story, and why they forgave the killer
Three members of Danny and Leila's immediate family—Antony, 13, Angelina, 12, and Sienna, 8, as well as their cousin Veronique Sakr, 11—were simply walking to get themselves some ice cream when an out-of-control ute suddenly mounted the sidewalk and hit them.
Unfortunately, the children were pronounced dead at the scene, and the driver was initially given a maximum punishment of 28 years in prison, but he successfully appealed the decision in July, resulting in an eight-year reduction in his sentence.
The parents who were left grieving after the loss of their children decided to launch ‘i4give Day’ as a memorial to the 'four angels that were tragically lost' and to raise awareness in the community of the life-changing effect that forgiveness can have on human relationships and healing.
'Forgiveness is the greatest gift you can give yourself and others. 'The more you practice, the better you become at it, and it allows you to live peacefully and to heal,' the couple says on the foundation's website.
The Sydney father who forgiven the drunk and drugged motorist who killed his three children will attend Her Majesty's farewell. Credit: Daily Telegraph.
Mr Abdallah is one of ten 'everyday Australians' who have been invited to the funeral of the Queen, and the following people will be joining him there:
Buckingham Palace has confirmed that the state burial for the Queen will be held at Westminster Abbey on Monday, September 19th. Her Majesty will then be laid to rest in the King George VI Memorial Chapel in Windsor, her hometown.
What do you think about Australia’s chosen representatives?
One of the invited Aussie guests making the trip to London for Her Majesty's farewell is Danny Abdallah, the father from Sydney who publicly forgave the drugged and intoxicated motorist who killed three of his children.
In 2020, a terrible car accident claimed the lives of Danny and Leila's three children and a cousin. Credit: News Corp.
Mr Abdallah, the co-founder of the i4give Foundation, is one of the ten 'everyday Australians' who, as a result of their 'exceptional achievements’, will go to London to attend the British monarch's farewell with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and other dignitaries.
In the two years since losing three of their six children—as well as their cousin—when a drunk driver struck them as they were walking in the Sydney suburb of Oatlands on February 1, 2020, Danny and his wife Leila have shown tremendous love and bravery.
Leila and Danny, proud parents of their seventh child, Selina, who was born in March of this year, expressed their thanks and acknowledgement for being invited to the Queen's funeral in a recent Instagram post.
'It is a great honour to be chosen to represent the country at the funeral of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, and I am grateful to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for inviting me to attend on behalf of all Australians,' Danny said in a statement.
'Her Majesty was a woman of deep Christian faith who demonstrated that great leaders commit themselves to the service of their people. I will carry the prayers, gratitude and well wishes of all Australians with me to her funeral.'
Danny and Leila's story, and why they forgave the killer
Three members of Danny and Leila's immediate family—Antony, 13, Angelina, 12, and Sienna, 8, as well as their cousin Veronique Sakr, 11—were simply walking to get themselves some ice cream when an out-of-control ute suddenly mounted the sidewalk and hit them.
Unfortunately, the children were pronounced dead at the scene, and the driver was initially given a maximum punishment of 28 years in prison, but he successfully appealed the decision in July, resulting in an eight-year reduction in his sentence.
The parents who were left grieving after the loss of their children decided to launch ‘i4give Day’ as a memorial to the 'four angels that were tragically lost' and to raise awareness in the community of the life-changing effect that forgiveness can have on human relationships and healing.
'Forgiveness is the greatest gift you can give yourself and others. 'The more you practice, the better you become at it, and it allows you to live peacefully and to heal,' the couple says on the foundation's website.
The Sydney father who forgiven the drunk and drugged motorist who killed his three children will attend Her Majesty's farewell. Credit: Daily Telegraph.
Mr Abdallah is one of ten 'everyday Australians' who have been invited to the funeral of the Queen, and the following people will be joining him there:
- Chris Waller - Hall of Fame Trainer in Australian Thoroughbred Racing
- Wheelchair Tennis Star Dylan Alcott
- Valmai Dempsey - 2022 Senior Australian of the Year
- Dr Miriam-Rose Ungunmerr Baumann - 2021 Senior Australian of the Year
- Shanna Whan - 2022 Local Hero of the Year
- Saba Abraham - Local Hero from Queensland
- Kim Smith - Local Hero from Tasmania
- Trudy Lin - 2022 Young Australian of the Year
- Professor Helen Milroy - 2021 Western Australian of the Year
Buckingham Palace has confirmed that the state burial for the Queen will be held at Westminster Abbey on Monday, September 19th. Her Majesty will then be laid to rest in the King George VI Memorial Chapel in Windsor, her hometown.
What do you think about Australia’s chosen representatives?
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