Juanita Suzanne Coco (10 December 1975 – 2 May 1993) was an Australian child singer and variety performer who was a regular on the talent and variety television show, Young Talent Time. She appeared from 1987 to 1988, from the age of 11 to 13.[citation needed] Coco was often paired with Joey Dee for duets.[citation needed] She had replaced Vanessa Windsor on the show and was the 35th member to join. After the show's demise, Coco worked with a professional cover band on a regular basis until her final year of high school (Year 12). She then formed a young band, Milk,[1] who were working on original songs and about to start performing at the time of her death in 1993.
On 2 May 1993, Juanita Coco attended her boyfriend, Scott Tiedgens', 20th birthday party in North Melbourne.[1] At the end of the evening, she got into a Subaru wagon driven by a female friend of another guest, accompanied by Tiedgen, and his friend, Brad Lacey, 21 years old, and two other friends.[1]
As the vehicle travelled through Malvern, it ran a red traffic light and was broadsided by another vehicle.[1] Sitting in the back seat, Coco and Lacey were killed instantly due to the force of the impact.[1][2] The driver survived with no injuries and Tiedgen survived with serious injuries.[1] Coco was 17 when she died. A subsequent investigation found that the driver of the Subaru was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident; manslaughter charges were later dropped in court.
Legacyedit
Juanita Coco's mother Jenny Coco and her husband Patrick formed The Friends of the Donor Tissue Bank of Victoria, following their daughter's donation of heart valve and corneas. Jenny, accompanied by a scientist from the Tissue Bank, gave talks to groups about the personal side of tissue donation and the importance of discussing it with family. Since her death, her former high school, St Helena Secondary College, has presented, The Juanita Coco Inspiration Award, to the person(s) who avidly carry on the spirit of Coco in their annual musical production.[3] It is "voted on by the cast and crew" and the criteria include leadership, ability and compassion.[3]
See alsoedit
Jessica Jacobs, an Australian child actress and singer who was killed in an accident whilst still a teenager
Charlotte Long, an English child actress who was killed in an accident whilst still a teenager
Jaclyn Linetsky, a Canadian child actress who was killed in an accident whilst still a teenager
Rob Knox, an English male child actor who was murdered whilst still a teenager
Referencesedit
^ abcdefRule, Andrew (2 May 1999). "Death of a Star". The Age. Fairfax Media. p. 17. Retrieved 6 February 2018.
juanita, coco, juanita, suzanne, coco, december, 1975, 1993, australian, child, singer, variety, performer, regular, talent, variety, television, show, young, talent, time, appeared, from, 1987, 1988, from, citation, needed, coco, often, paired, with, joey, du. Juanita Suzanne Coco 10 December 1975 2 May 1993 was an Australian child singer and variety performer who was a regular on the talent and variety television show Young Talent Time She appeared from 1987 to 1988 from the age of 11 to 13 citation needed Coco was often paired with Joey Dee for duets citation needed She had replaced Vanessa Windsor on the show and was the 35th member to join After the show s demise Coco worked with a professional cover band on a regular basis until her final year of high school Year 12 She then formed a young band Milk 1 who were working on original songs and about to start performing at the time of her death in 1993 Juanita CocoBirth nameJuanita Suzanne CocoBorn 1975 12 10 10 December 1975OriginMelbourne Victoria AustraliaDied2 May 1993 1993 05 02 aged 17 East Malvern Victoria AustraliaGenresPopOccupation s Singer variety show performerInstrument s VocalsYears active1987 1993 Contents 1 Death 2 Legacy 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksDeath editOn 2 May 1993 Juanita Coco attended her boyfriend Scott Tiedgens 20th birthday party in North Melbourne 1 At the end of the evening she got into a Subaru wagon driven by a female friend of another guest accompanied by Tiedgen and his friend Brad Lacey 21 years old and two other friends 1 As the vehicle travelled through Malvern it ran a red traffic light and was broadsided by another vehicle 1 Sitting in the back seat Coco and Lacey were killed instantly due to the force of the impact 1 2 The driver survived with no injuries and Tiedgen survived with serious injuries 1 Coco was 17 when she died A subsequent investigation found that the driver of the Subaru was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident manslaughter charges were later dropped in court Legacy editJuanita Coco s mother Jenny Coco and her husband Patrick formed The Friends of the Donor Tissue Bank of Victoria following their daughter s donation of heart valve and corneas Jenny accompanied by a scientist from the Tissue Bank gave talks to groups about the personal side of tissue donation and the importance of discussing it with family Since her death her former high school St Helena Secondary College has presented The Juanita Coco Inspiration Award to the person s who avidly carry on the spirit of Coco in their annual musical production 3 It is voted on by the cast and crew and the criteria include leadership ability and compassion 3 See also editJessica Jacobs an Australian child actress and singer who was killed in an accident whilst still a teenager Charlotte Long an English child actress who was killed in an accident whilst still a teenager Jaclyn Linetsky a Canadian child actress who was killed in an accident whilst still a teenager Rob Knox an English male child actor who was murdered whilst still a teenagerReferences edit a b c d e f Rule Andrew 2 May 1999 Death of a Star The Age Fairfax Media p 17 Retrieved 6 February 2018 In Brief The Canberra Times Vol 67 no 21 202 3 May 1993 p 2 Retrieved 6 February 2018 via National Library of Australia Note article incorrectly shows Coco as 18 a b Terry Karen 19 August 2016 Principal s Message St Helena Secondary College Archived from the original on 25 April 2017 Retrieved 6 February 2018 External links editJuanita Coco at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Juanita Coco amp oldid 1177145556, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
