Juanita Coco

Juanita Suzanne Coco (10 December 1975 – 2 May 1993) was an Australian singer and actress best known for her role on the popular talent/variety show Young Talent Time in the late 1980s. She appeared on the show from 1987 to 1988, aged 13, and was best known for her rendition of the song 'La Bamba'. When a boy team member and a girl team member teamed up, Juanita was paired up with Joey Dee. She replaced Vanessa Windsor on the show and was the 35th member to join the team. The 36th was Joey Dee and the 37th was Rikki Arnot. Then Jamie Churchill then last of all Johnnie Nuich.

After the show's demise, Coco faded into obscurity until her death in 1993.

On 2 May 1993, Juanita Coco attended her boyfriend's birthday party in North Melbourne. At the end of the evening, she got into a Subaru wagon driven by a female friend of another guest, accompanied by her boyfriend, and his best friend Brad Lacy and two other friends.

As the vehicle travelled along Malvern Road, Malvern, it ran a red traffic light and was broadsided by another vehicle travelling at high speed. Sitting in the back seat, Juanita and Brad Lacy were killed instantly due to the force of the impact. The driver survived with no injuries and Juanita's boyfriend survived with serious injuries. Juanita was 17 when she died.

The 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.

Juanita's mother Jenny Coco and her husband Patrick formed "The Friends of the Donor Tissue Bank of Victoria" following Juanita's donation of heart valve and corneas. Jenny, accommpanied by a scientist from the Tissue Bank, gave many talks to groups about the personal side of tissue donation and the importance of discussing it with family. Ever since her death, her former high school (St Helena Secondary College) has presented "The Juanita Coco Award": awarded to the person (or persons in rare cases) who avidly carry on the spirit of Coco in the annual St Helena Secondary musical production. The award represents leadership, ability and compassion: all features Coco bought proudly to St Helena.