In the leafy, affluent enclave of Mosman Park, the police tape has finally been removed, but a profound and heavy silence remains. It is a quietude that speaks louder than words, hanging over the residence where a grandfather, Michael Clune, was seen paying a solemn visit just days after his family’s lives were irrevocably changed.
The scene on Mott Crescent was one of heartbreaking contrast. What was once a bustling home filled with the complexities of daily life is now the site of a tragedy that has shaken the entire Perth community. Michael Clune stood looking down the driveway of the home where his son, Jarrod, his daughter-in-law, Maiwenna, and his two teenage grandsons, Leon and Otis, were found deceased on Friday morning. The visit marked a painful first step in a journey of grief that no parent or grandparent should ever have to endure.
The discovery of the family, along with their beloved pets, was made by a care worker who arrived for a routine visit. Instead of a greeting, they were met with a note pinned to the door—a final act of protection instructing the visitor not to enter and to contact emergency services immediately. Inside, authorities found that the family of four had passed away in what investigators are treating as a heartbreaking, joint decision born of despair rather than malice.
As the initial shock subsides, the narrative emerging from those who knew the family is not one of villainy, but of a devoted couple pushed beyond their limits. Friends and neighbors have painted a portrait of Maiwenna and Jarrod as fierce advocates for their sons, both of whom lived with severe autism and high support needs. The tragedy has sparked a furious conversation about the invisible struggles of unpaid carers and the alleged failures of the support systems designed to help them.
Reports suggest that the family had recently faced cuts to their funding, leaving them feeling isolated and abandoned by the very institutions meant to provide a safety net. “They moved stones to ensure their boys had support,” one friend remarked, noting that the couple was fighting a losing battle against a bureaucracy that offered little relief from their chronic exhaustion.
The community’s response has been one of overwhelming sorrow and solidarity. Where forensic officers once stood, floral tributes and handwritten cards now line the pavement. In a poignant gesture, white ribbons have been tied to a mulberry tree in the front yard—a tree where, neighbours recall, the boys’ mother used to help them pick fruit. “I think it is fitting we acknowledge the profound loss of every member of this family unit,” read a tribute from a local resident, who is organizing a candlelight vigil to honor the lives of two young boys and the parents who loved them deeply.
This devastating event serves as a somber reminder that behind the manicured hedges of our quietest suburbs, families may be carrying burdens too heavy to bear alone. As Michael Clune mourns the loss of two generations of his family, the wider community is left to reflect on the fragility of life and the urgent need for greater compassion and support for those walking the difficult path of caregiving.