The principal of a school where a 14-year-old former student tragically took her own life has admitted that she ‘undoubtedly’ suffered bullying, as he called for more support for children suffering with mental health issues.
Isla Marschke’s body was discovered by her mother Christie Jacobson in the backyard of their Bundaberg South home in Queensland on Tuesday evening.
Ms Jacobson desperately performed CPR but it was too late to save Isla, who had left a short note in her room alongside her phone password.
‘I’m sorry, I love you mum,’ it read.
Daily Mail Australia previously revealed how Isla’s mum had faced an uphill battle to get help for her daughter who had suffered with mental health issues for several years.
‘I live in a regional town and I went for months and months, desperately trying to find a child psychologist who could help my daughter,’ Ms Jacobsen told this publication on Wednesday.
‘But I was constantly turned away because she was too young or their books were full. Follow-up care was almost impossible. I can’t tell you the amount of instances I would ask for help and be told ‘no, no, no’.
‘Whilst this was happening she was also receiving some bullying and experiencing family dynamic issues.’
Isla Marschke (pictured) was discovered by her mother, Christie Jacobson, in the backyard of their Bundaberg South home in Queensland on Tuesday evening
On Thursday, Shalom College school principal Daniel McMahon said that Isla ‘undoubtedly’ experienced bullying at the school
Ms Jacobsen, a piano instructor and performing artist, called for more funding for mental health support in regional areas.
Isla had recently left traditional learning at Shalom College, a Catholic school in Bundaberg, to take up distance education partly because of the bullying and the fact she found it hard to fit in.
On Thursday, Shalom College school principal Daniel McMahon told another publication that Isla ‘undoubtedly’ experienced bullying at the school.
‘A couple of individuals of whom I am aware, are not students at this school.’
This reflects comments made by Isla’s sister, Ava, who told this publication that she had been the victim of bullying and had left traditional school in July to start distance education because she struggled to fit in.
‘She’d been struggling for quite a while,’ Ava added.
‘I’ve had to message them before to leave Isla alone and I’ve had to speak to them at school before to leave Isla alone because it just gets so out of hand.’
‘They were just awful to her.’
Mr McMahon said that ‘kids have to navigate some bullying sadly’ and teachers at Shalom College worked hard to deal with it when it arose but some happened in ‘secret’.
‘Isla’s story is tragic but it is not just about bullying,’ Mr McMahon added.
‘As her mum Christie pointed out in the media today, mental illness is a very real problem and the lack of enough support services for individuals and families is a real issue.
‘She was in pain from multiple and complex issues as is the case with many people.
‘Trying to pin blame on an individual or individuals might make some feel some satisfaction but it is not helpful and not accurate.
‘I would much prefer to put energy into helping young people have the courage to reach out for help when they need it and having that help readily available.’
Mr McMahon said that ‘kids have to navigate some bullying sadly’ and teachers at Shalom College worked hard to deal with it when it arose but some happened in ‘secret’
Ms Jacobson desperately performed CPR but it was too late to save Isla, who had left a short note in her room alongside her phone password (pictured: Isla and her mother, Christie)
It comes as two of the dance academies Isla attended paid tribute to her memory.
‘Isla joined TNT in January of 2024, competed in her first Hip Hop Solo at a dance competition, performed in numerous routines in our Concert last month, and brought a smile and fun-loving attitude to class.,’ TNT Dance Academy wrote on social media.
LA Dance Academy said: ‘Today, the world feels a little dimmer without your light.’
Just two hours, before Isla was found she had been chatting at home with her older sister Ava, 16, about their upcoming birthdays and the presents they both wanted.
Ava, who was the last person to speak to Isla, then left for her job as a pharmacy assistant at Chemist Warehouse.
Her stepfather came and told her the awful news shortly before 6pm.
‘Isla and I had just been just talking about normal stuff,’ Ava told this publication.
‘It’s my birthday next Friday and hers is on the 24th, so she was just talking about how she got me a present. She seemed really fine.’
Isla, who worked in a local fish and chip shop, had been the victim of bullying and had left traditional school in July to start distance education because she struggled to fit in
Just two hours before Isla was found she had been chatting happily at home with her older sister Ava, 16, about their upcoming birthdays and the presents they both wanted.
Isla, who had suffered for years before the bullying began with anxiety, OCD and autism, but her mental state seemed to have improved drastically after the move to home learning.
‘She was thriving, she wanted to be a leader and her school work was just improving out of sight,’ Andy McLucas, Isla’s stepfather, said.
‘She absolutely loved it. She had found her place, so it just has come as such a shock.’
Mr McLucas, who is separated from Isla’s mother, said she had ‘been through various bouts of counselling and speaking with therapists’.
‘Once we removed the school element, she was doing quite well,’ Mr McLucas said.
‘When she was down, it was very noticeable. But this wasn’t one of those times, she had just seemed a little bit flat.’
Mr McLucas, who said Isla was a talented musician and singer, paid tribute to her ‘quirky’ personality.
Isla was remembered for her ‘quirky’ personality and was described as a ‘ball of awesomeness’
A GoFundMe page , which was set up by Ava to help cover the cost of her funeral, has so far raised over $20,000
‘She just had such a wickedly awesome sense of humour to the point that not many people understood it because she was just so funny and so different,’ Mr McLucas said.
‘She was so talented. She had a beautiful voice, loved to sing all the time and could play any instrument. She was just a ball of awesomeness.’
Her voice was so good that her new school had recently asked her to record the national anthem to be played during assemblies.
‘She was so empathetic towards those that she loved,’ Mr McLucas added.
‘And when she took to you, she really took to you. She was very picky and she just didn’t gel with everyone, but when she did she just loved fiercely, and she would read you.
‘She just didn’t know how loved she was.’
A GoFundMe page, which was set up by Ava to help cover the cost of her funeral, has so far raised almost $55,000.
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