It’s time I lay it all bare. For ten years, I’ve carried a pain so sharp it’s hard to breathe some days. I've hidden behind a veil of secrecy, and I knew this day would come when I could share my heart and soul with the world.

I’m not telling this story for pity or praise. I’m writing because people need to know the truth—how it feels to lose everything, to scream for justice and barely be heard, to hold onto the memories of children who should still be here. For ten years, I’ve been denied the chance to properly grieve because the fight for their peace never ends. I pour everything into these words: the anger, the heartbreak, the love, and the desperate hope that somehow, telling our story will matter.

I raised their surviving brother while barely holding myself together. I’ve written tributes, spilled out memories, and sometimes just raged onto the page—because that’s what grief does. If you’re reading this, just know: it’s not polished, it’s not easy, but it’s real. My world ended that day, and all I can do now is protect the ones left and tell the truth, no matter how much it hurts.

Thank you for reading…

PREVENTABLE

The Hillier Triple Murders

By Janet Wells

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this writing contains the names and images of people who have passed away

A Glimpse into a

Preventable Tragedy in SA

Hillier Murders Memoir is a true story of love, loss, and the search for justice after the devastating murders of Amber, Korey, and Yvette. Through heartfelt reflections and honest storytelling, my writing reveals a family’s struggle with grief, the failure of child protection systems, and the long fight for accountability. This is both a tribute to the children lost and a call for change, inviting readers to witness the reality behind an unimaginable tragedy

For Amber, Korey, and Yvette your lives, your laughter, and your love will never be forgotten. Every day, you are missed beyond words and cherished beyond measure.

And for Seany, our sole survivor your courage in the face of unimaginable loss is a testament to the strength of your spirit and the love that surrounds you still.

May you always know how deeply you are loved and supported.

Your stories will live on in every heart you have touched.

KEEPING THEIR MEMORIES ALIVE

A GRANDFATHER’S RITUAL

They would be so proud of their poppy. He represents them in ways that not everyone sees, but those who do know how deeply he goes above and beyond. I watch him kneel at their graves, wiping away tears as he carefully manicures each resting place. One by one, he replaces the individual mementos that represent those who lie beneath, ensuring that their presence is honoured with dignity and love.

The first grave belongs to a little girl—his first baby granddaughter—who brought immeasurable joy into his world. She adored her poppy. To her, he was fun, her funny monster, but most of all, her safe place.

Next is the young woman who became family, all at her own request. She embraced him with love and affection, became the mother of his grandchildren, and was the first to do so. She will always hold a place in his heart, her memory woven into the fabric of our family story.

And lastly, there is Korey, his precious little boy. Korey would grab his Poppy’s hand and point, drawing him into his world—a world filled with laughter, innocence, and love.

Those memories break him often, and when he tends to their graves, silence is essential. It is the only way he can make it through, the only way he can carry out this sacred routine. A ritual that can never be compromised, because it is his way of staying connected, his way of protecting them still.