Friends, family and colleagues are remembering the Sydney water polo coach and university student Lilie James for her “bright, bubbly personality”, as students prepare to return next week to the elite private school where she was killed.
James, 21, was found dead with serious head injuries in a bathroom attached to the St Andrew’s Cathedral school gymnasium at about midnight on Wednesday.
Police described the scene as “confronting” and were seeking to speak with her colleague and former student of the school Paul Thijssen about the death.
The James family issued a statement on Friday to thank the community for their support, remembering their daughter and sister as a “vibrant, outgoing and very much loved” young woman.
“We are devastated and heartbroken by the loss of our beautiful Lilie James,” the statement said.
“We are tremendously grateful for the support of our community at this difficult time.”
In a note to parents on Friday afternoon, the head of the school, Dr Julie McGonigle, said police had assured her that the killing was unforeseeable and vowed not to let the “horrors of evil” define the school community.
“Based on [a representative of NSW police’s] extensive investigation, he assured us that this was a completely unforeseeable event,” McGonigle told parents.
“There are no words for what has occurred. It is like entering a foreign land which possesses no words.”
The school was shut to all students on Thursday and Friday other than for those completing their year 12 exams.
McGonigle said James was a “much-loved” sports assistant.
“Lilie’s engagement across the student body was wide-ranging and, as you will know from your children, she was adored by all,” McGonigle said.
“In all of my dealings with Lilie, she was full of vitality, energy, enthusiasm and a natural fit in our community.”
McGonigle also released a note from some of James’s closest colleagues.
“Lilie’s bright, bubbly personality will be dearly missed,” they said.
“She was a vibrant, smart, compassionate young lady who impacted the lives of many at our school and we are utterly heartbroken by this news.”
McGonigle said that the priority for the school was to support the sports assistant’s parents, brother and extended family.
“We all stand with them in their pain,” she said.
“The horrors of evil do not and will not define us. We will have to all strongly commit to that truth every day, and sometimes every moment of the day, to make it a reality. I know we can.”
Students will be able to return to school on Monday, with a number of precautions being taken for safety and wellbeing, including providing extra counsellors.
The gymnasium will be out of bounds and one of the libraries will be transformed into a drop-in counselling centre.
McGonigle advised students to stay off social media where possible and speak with someone if they have concerns.
Police continued their search for Thijssen on Friday. They pulled a body out of the water near the Gap shortly after noon. The body was yet to be identified but officers confirmed it was a man.
Thijssen graduated from St Andrew’s in 2017 and has since worked for the school in various roles, including as an after-hours coordinator and a sports coach.
In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14 and the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org
