School mourns tragedy

By Paul Pickering
UPWEY High School students are mourning the tragic deaths of 16-year-old classmates Jodie Gater and Stephanie Gestier.
The bodies of the two Belgrave teenagers were found in Ferntree Gully parkland shortly after 2pm on Sunday afternoon, providing a grim ending to a week-long police search.
Belgrave Police Sergeant Mick Hall said a resident of Walbundry Avenue, Ferntree Gully, found the pair hanging from a tree in Dandenong Ranges National Park at the rear of his property.
Police believe the girls had taken their own lives several days earlier.
Jodie and Stephanie were last seen by their parents on the morning of Sunday, 15 March, having left their homes to meet friends at Eastland Shopping Centre in Ringwood.
Jodie’s father, Robert Gater, last week said that his daughter had seemed happy when she left their Belgrave home.
Sgt Hall, who led the missing persons investigation, admitted that it was an unforeseen ending.
“You often find one person who’s suffering from such depression, but to have two girls with the same state of mind simultaneously is highly unusual,” he said.
“Nobody expected it to turn out the way it did.”
Perhaps the only indication of Jodie’s intentions could be found on her personal MySpace website, which is headlined by the message: “Let Steph n me b free.”
Jodie last accessed her site the day before she was reported missing.
Prominently displayed on her site is what may have been a parting message to her boyfriend: “I luv you sooo soo much allan, miss u heaps and heaps xoxoxo I will always remember u.”
Since the news of the deaths, several online tributes have been posted by Jodie’s friends.
One message from a user named ‘Skinner’ reads: “R.I.P. Jodie Gater – I will cherish every second I spent with you for the rest of my life.”
There is also a tribute from ‘Tabykat’, whose own page is headed by the quote: “Don’t be afraid that your life will end, be afraid that it will never begin.”
Jodie and Stephanie are believed to have embraced the ‘Emo’ subculture – a contemporary variation of the Gothic movement – which has been translated into the mainstream as a popular musical genre.
The subculture is said to be characterised by a tendency towards self-pity, self-deprecation and, in extreme cases, even self-mutilation.
Upwey High School principal Greg Holman said the school community was devastated by the deaths. A crisis assembly was held on Monday morning to inform and counsel grieving students.
“One of our strengths as a school community is that we are a tight knit group who will support each other in these difficult times,” Mr Holman said.
“Counsellors are already working with students and staff and will continue to support the whole school community.
“Our deepest thoughts and sympathies are with the grieving families, relatives and friends of Stephanie and Jodie.”
Dr Kristin Michaels, CEO of the Eastern Ranges GP Association, noted that young people experiencing depression are often reluctant to approach counsellors and medical practitioners about their problems. “People often think that GPs don’t deal with depression but we’d like to remind young people that their local doctors are there for them as a resource,” Dr Michaels said.
Police are preparing a report on the deaths for the coroner.
Mark Allan, team leader for Suicide HelpLine Victoria, is concerned that the incident may have an influence on other students.
“There is evidence that suicide can have modelling or contamination effect, particularly in small or rural areas.
“There can be clusters of incidents, because suicide is modelled as a solution.”
For help or information call Suicide Helpline Victoria on 1300 651 251 or Lifeline on 131 114.