Tjandamurra O'Shane

Tjandamurra (Jandamarra) "Janda" O'Shane (born 15 August 1990) is an Aboriginal Australian man who at age six was the victim of a fire attack whilst playing at a schoolyard in Cairns, Queensland on 10 October 1996. The attack, and O'Shane's struggle to survive, captivated the Australian nation, as millions followed his plight in the Australian media.

Background Tjandamurra O'Shane was born on 15 August 1990, and known as "Janda". His given name comes from the Aboriginal resistance fighter Tjandamurra, and is sometimes transliterated as "Jandamarra". He is the nephew of New South Wales magistrate Pat O'Shane, and former Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commissioner Terry O'Shane. O'Shane's

Aftermath O'Shane became a national figure in Australia, as the country sympathised and followed his progress. The attack received publicity around the world.

Streeton was arrested and later convicted for the attack. He was sentenced to life in jail.

Pat O'Shane described Streeton's sentence as "too harsh".

Support In 1996, boxer Lionel Rose presented O'Shane with his World Title belt, hoping to speed the youngster's recovery.

Fundraising activities took place around Australia. The current affairs program Witness, on the Seven Network, set up an appeal, and was inundated with money, chocolates, teddy bears, and other toys for O'Shane. The program raised in excess of $120,000, and money kept coming during following years. Australian rock band Midnight Oil played a charity concert in Cairns, Queensland in 1997, to raise money for O'Shane's recovery.

In June 1999, at the age of eight, O'Shane was awarded A$75,000 in criminal compensation in the Supreme Court of Queensland. New South Wales Attorney-General Jeff Shaw, used the case to highlight inequities in the compensation laws, pointing out other cases where no physical harm was done, but much larger sums of money were issued.

Graham Richardson of the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games, gave O'Shane a position on the Torch Relay of the 2000 Summer Olympics. As he was three years below the minimum age to carry the flame, O'Shane ran with his mother.

Personal life In an interview given to The Courier Mail in 2008 to mark his 18th birthday, O'Shane said he was bemused by the enormous amount of national attention he had received in Australia. and a daughter.