Mexico Murders: Parents of Callum and Jake Robinson set up new foundation in their sons’ names

Live bigger, shine brighter and love harder. That’s how Perth brothers Callum and Jake Robinson lived their lives. It’s also the motto behind a newly created foundation that has been established in their memory. Set up by their stoic parents Martin and Debra, it’s hoped the Callum and Jake Robinson Fund will go towards helping people across a wide variety of fields in Australia and the US, where Callum lived. The establishment of such an important foundation in memory of the pair is in stark contrast to the horrendous circumstances in which the two brothers lost their lives several months ago. Callum, 32, and Jake, 31, and their American mate Carter Rhoad, 30, became the subject of international media attention when they vanished in Mexico near Ensenada in Baja California on April 27. The trio had been on a surfing trip. After a massive search and a major police investigation in the US and Mexico, the worst case scenario for the three men’s families was tragically realised when their bodies were found a week after their disappearances near their campsite. Mexican authorities claim that the brothers and their friend were brutally murdered by thieves trying to steal the tyres from their ute. In an exclusive interview with The West Australian at their Sorrento home on Wednesday – their first formal interview since the tragedy unfolded - Martin and Debra said they were overcome and overwhelmed by the outpouring of support they had received since their sons were murdered. They are now hoping the establishment of the Callum and Jake Robinson Fund - set up with the help of the Australian Communities Foundation - will keep their sons’ memories alive. “Since this has happened, we’ve learned a lot about our kids…I didn’t realise they were so encouraging of other people,” Mrs Robinson said. “This (fund) money we believe should go towards encouraging other people to follow their dreams.” Mr Robinson said it was his hope the foundation could also go towards helping lacrosse clubs in the US and medical groups in WA - given Callum was a professional lacrosse player and Jake was a doctor. “One thing that this whole tragedy has brought home to us is that you don’t really know your children and you don’t realise the impact they had on other people’s lives,” he said. “We’ve had people contact us saying ‘Jake did this for me or Callum was instrumental in doing this for me.’ “All of a sudden we now realise all these great things these boys were doing.” The Robinsons said the amount of stories, condolences and messages they had received since the tragedy occurred had been amazing. “They (the messages) are so nice to read and how they had affected other people’s lives,” Mrs Robinson said. “Their community and their tribe were really good people because they were good people. “We are very grateful to those people who have come forward.” Mr Robinson and his wife made the terrible journey to Mexico to identify the bodies of their children. The father said this week that those few days in Mexico were an emotional rollercoaster. “We initially had some hope when we left here, because we found out on a Wednesday that they were missing and on Friday we were on a plane,” he said. “Like all parents, we thought maybe they had been kidnapped or their car had broken down, but when we got to Sydney we were led into a room by this young Federal police officer ... and they basically said that they had found the bodies. “So even before we left Australia we knew it was likely to be them and they had passed away. “After that, it was an emotional roller coaster. We flew in and went straight down to Mexico. We had to identify the bodies and give statements.” Four people in Mexico were swiftly arrested and charged over their alleged involvement in the disappearances of the three men. A 31-year-old Ensenada man, known as Angel Jesus “N”, became the fifth person to be arrested in mid-July. Mr and Mrs Robinson said the Australian Federal Police were keeping them regularly updated on the Mexican court proceedings. The case is due to come before court again in November. Mr Robinson said one of the biggest adjustments he and Debra were now coming to terms with was realising that their sons would never get married, or have kids of their own one day. “We were looking forward to them getting married and having kids one day, but now we don’t have children of our own, so that’s the biggest adjustment that we now have to deal with,” he said. “What’s keeping us going though is the outpouring of emotion for both of them. It has just been fantastic.” Donations can be made to the Callum & Jake Robinson Fund here https://callum-and-jake-robinson.raiselysite.com/