Rikki Arney and Gavin Lowe faced the press in the hope their plight might save another family their shocking experience. Cameron had just stepped out to buy a hamburger when he was assaulted by a cowardly thug on the way back to his Pakenham home early last Sunday morning. Ms Arney said her son had told her she loved him before he set out with his brother on the fateful trip. “I told him to go straight there and come straight home. He told me he loved me that night and that I was the best mum in the world,'' she said.
"Kids don't tell you these things that often ... and I'm never going to hear that again and I'm so grateful I heard that.''The devastated parents said they could not understand the violence on Melbourne's streets and their son's senseless death. “Only once before had he gone out at night and he got bashed and robbed and (this time) was only the second time I'd ever let him out because there were a few of them. They were old enough to go straight there and come straight back,'' Ms Arney said.
“I don't understand the violence on the streets. He was just going down the street to get something to eat and coming straight home,'' Ms Arney said. “You never know what is going to happen out there...it's just a random senseless act that should never of happened and we've all been robbed. He was just starting his life.''Mrs Arney warned parents not to let their kids wander the streets at night.
“Be careful. Don't walk the streets at night. you don't know how a fast a simple little thing can alter so many lives and destroy a community,'' she said. Police have interviewed a 17-year old over the attack, but are yet to lay any charges. Mrs Arney said she was hopeful someone would be held accountable for her son's death.
"He did nothing to provoke anything. He was laughing up to the last minute. He didn't deserve anything,'' she said. “I hope my son doesn't die in vain because he should never have gone yet.''Mr Lowe said he felt sorry for the person who punched his son, but Ms Arney said she was just numb. “I'm just trying to understand I can't touch my baby anymore,'' she said.
The couple said parents should hug their children tonight and be grateful they're alive. “Love your babies because you don't know when something like that can happen to them,'' Ms Arney said. “I hope no-one else has to feel this, to lose their babies. We're meant to go before our babies. We're not meant to bury our children. It's not fair.''Mrs Arney said there was very little for teenagers to do in Pakenham apart from walking the streets looking for trouble.
“That's why I didn't let them walk the streets. It can be a small town, there is not much for the kids to do and you see them walking the streets,'' she said. The parents have decided to donate Cameron's organs for transplant.
“Hopefully he can save other lives,'' Ms Arney said. “maybe five lives could be saved with his senseless, tragic death and that's the only good part out of this.''Their public appearance follows a string of tributes from Cameron’s friends and colleagues on Facebook and other social networking sites.
But their memories have been marred by internet “trolls” who yesterday defaced an RIP Cameron Lowe page with graphically violent and pornographic pictures and taunting statements. Victoria Police have contacted Facebook administrators to have the offensive material removed.