Hundreds of people are expected to gather at vigils held nationwide on Thursday to mourn and remember five-year-old Kumanjayi Little Baby on the one-week anniversary of her body being found.
The Warlpiri girl’s body was found on 30 April, five kilometres from Old Timers/Ilyperenye town camp in Alice Springs, where she was allegedly abducted. A 47-year-old man, Jefferson Lewis, has been charged with murder and two other offences.
The central Australian town has been in deep mourning after her death. Her family and community have called for silence and a pause in the growing political debate around her death to allow them to grieve the loss.
The minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, said there would be a time for conversations but requested Australians “stay with the family” in their grief.
“Join them at the vigil on Thursday to light a candle wherever you are in the country, to wear pink and join with the families, as we still do the appropriate thing here for Sorry Business and say goodbye,” McCarthy told the ABC this week.
Vigils to mourn the little girl will be held in cities and towns around the country to coincide with the candlelight vigil held in Alice Springs on Thursday.
Her family is encouraging everyone attending vigils across Australia to wear pink – Kumanjayi Little Baby’s favourite colour.
Organisers are echoing the family’s calls to come together in respectful grief and mourning and be mindful of cultural protocols.
Here’s where you can find vigils and memorials happening around the country.
Northern Territory
In Alice Springs, family, community and supporters are inviting community to join them at Anzac Oval on Thursday at 5.30pm (ACST) for a sombre gathering to mark Kumanjayi Little Baby’s death as well as acknowledge the search efforts by NT police, volunteers, Tangentyere council and the Central Land council.
“Please join in the spirit of love, peace and community,” organisers say. “Let’s wrap our arms around our grieving community and send our gratitude and support to everyone who helped search for this little one.”
New South Wales
In Sydney Kumanjayi Little Baby’s vigil will be held at Town Hall on Thursday at 5.30pm (AEST) with organisers saying the event is a time for grief, solidarity and reflection, urging people to come in “shared sorrow and respect”.Attendees have been asked to leave “flags at home” – reiterating that the vigil is not a protest – and instead to bring a candle to remember a “life taken too soon”.
In Gosford, community members are invited to come together on Thursday at 5.30pm at the local Leagues Club Park to “mourn, reflect and support” Little Baby’s family. Those attending are being asked to bring a battery-operated candle.
In Lismore a vigil will be held at the Lismore Skate Park at 6pm, and in Ballina there will be two vigils: one at Shelley Beach at 6pm and the second at Ross Park at 6.30pm.
In western NSW, vigils will be held at Moree at the Shae Academy on Anne Street at 5.30pm; in Parkes at the Bushman Hill Amphitheatre at 6pm; in Narrandera at the Wiradjuri Memorial Wall at Marie Bashir Park at 6.30pm.
There will also be a vigil in Tumut at 5.30pm and at Katoomba at the Civic Centre at 6pm.
Australian Capital Territory
In Canberra, at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy on King George Terrace within the Parliamentary Triangle, organisers will hold a candlelight vigil at sunset on Thursday from 5.30pm. Community are asked to bring a candle.
South Australia
In Adelaide, organisers are asking people to come and stand in solidarity, love and support at Victoria Square/Tarntanyangga on Thursday at 6pm (ACST). Vigils will also be held in Adelaide’s outer suburbs: at the Noarlunga Centre in Ramsay Place at 6pm; and at the Foreshore in Semaphore at 6pm.
A candlelight vigil is being held on Thursday at 6pm at the Port Augusta foreshore to “celebrate and remember the life of Little Baby Kumanjayi”, described as “a young life taken by a failing criminal justice system”.
In Port Pirie, a vigil will be held at the rotunda at the Memorial Park on Thursday at 6pm. Organisers request people bring a candle or leave a light on in remembrance of Kumanjayi Little Baby.
In Port Lincoln, a vigil will be held at the Foreshore at 6pm.
In Wyalla, a vigil will be held at Civic Park, arriving at 5.30pm for a 6pm start. No naked flames are permitted at that venue.
In Mount Gambier at the Cave Gardens on Thursday from 6pm, community are invited to gather in “solidarity to mourn the heartbreaking loss”. People are asked to bring a piece of foliage to contribute to a community mandala as a “symbol of remembrance, connection and healing”.
A vigil will also be held at the Ceduna foreshore jetty on Friday at 5.30pm.
Western Australia
In Perth, the candlelight vigil will take place from 4-6pm (AWST) at Forrest Place, with organisers saying the vigil is timed to coincide with the Alice Springs vigil as requested by family.
In Kalgoorlie, a vigil will be held at St Barbara Square on Thursday at 4.30pm. Organisers say the vigil will be about coming together to “remember, reflect and hold one another close during this difficult time”. Mourners are asked to bring a candle or flowers. In Leonora, a vigil will be held at the Yingkapayi Park on Thursday, 7 May at 5pm.
In Karratha, a vigil will be held at Hearson’s Cove from 4.30pm to 6pm. At Roebourne, a vigil will be held on the school oval from 5.30pm.
In Broome, community are invited to mark the nationwide vigil at Male Oval on Thursday from 5.30pm. Derby will hold a vigil from 5pm to 8pm at the local visitors’ centre on the grass area with a barbecue, tea and coffee on offer for those gathering to support the family and mark “the little girl lost too soon”. Fitzroy Crossing will hold a vigil at Old Crossing at 5pm.
In Geraldton, organisers will be holding a candle light vigil in support of Kumanjayi Little Baby’s family and community at Stow Gardens Geraldton Foreshore on Thursday at 5.30pm. In Carnarvon, a candlelight vigil will be held at the Carnarvon town beach from 6pm. People are invited to wear pink and to “gather together and watch the sunset and give each other strength as we mourn this precious little girl”.
Queensland
In Forest Lake in Brisbane, a vigil will be held at the Lake Parklands from 5.30pm.
In the Sunshine Coast at Cotton Tree the vigil will be held on Thursday with people arriving from 4pm (AEST) for an expected 5pm start. Organisers say the event is about coming together in unity to pay respect and mourning.
In far north Queensland vigils will be held in Cairns at Fogarty Park at 6pm; at Townsville at the Strand Park at 5.30pm for a 6pm start; and at Yarrabah at Malcolm Bishop Park from 6pm.
In central Queensland, vigils will be held at at Rockhampton at the Rainbow Fountain on Murray Street at 5.50pm and at Mackay at Fishbones on River Street from 4pm to 6pm.
There will also be a vigil at Cloncurry in western Queensland, at the lookout, from 6pm.
Tasmania
In Hobart, the Tasmania Aboriginal Centre is holding a memorial on Thursday at 5.30pm on the parliament lawns for a sunset vigil. The community is invited to bring a candle to show their “love and support” for the grieving family for their loss of a “precious little girl”.
Victoria
In Melbourne, the Aborigines Advancement League will hold the vigil on Thursday from 5.30pm in Thornbury. Community is asked to bring a candle in Kumanjayi Little Baby’s honour and “stand united against violence towards our children”.
In Mildura, people are invited to gather at Apex Beach on the Murray River at 6pm to “stand in solidarity against child abuse and show your love and support for her family and community”.
In Castlemaine, a vigil will be held at the Three Creeks Meet site on Djarra country at 5.30pm. Attendees are encouraged to bring a torch.
• Indigenous Australians can call 13YARN on 13 92 76 for information and crisis support; or call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Mensline on 1300 789 978
