Family of Allison Baden-Clay speaks about her daughters five years after her murder

FIVE years ago the daughters of Allison Baden-Clay lost their mum. Now 10, 13 and 15, they are thriving. In an exclusive interview, Allison’s family say their strength can be directly attributed to the brave spirit of their mum.

FIVE years ago three young girls lost their mum — but she lives on in them.

The daughters of murder victim Allison Baden-Clay are thriving despite their “horrific” ordeal, her family say.

The strength of the girls — now 10, 13 and 15 — has been attributed to the brave spirit of their mum.

“She instilled in them a sense of resilience,” Allison’s sister Vanessa Fowler told The Courier-Mail yesterday. “She taught them you ­continue to be the best you can be.”

Allison’s parents, Priscilla and Geoff Dickie, also paid tribute to the three girls.

“It was their mother’s love that brought them through,” Mrs Dickie said.

“They have just coped ... The girls need to be commended for the way they have carried on their lives.”

It is the first time Allison’s family have talked about raising the girls after the murder of their mother.

Geoff and Priscilla Dickie with their daughter Vanessa Fowler at the Baden-Clay Foundation lunch on Friday. Picture: Claudia Baxter

It was five years ago this week, on Friday, April 20, 2012, that former real estate agent Gerard Baden-Clay reported his wife Allison, 43, missing.

Allison’s body was discovered 10 days later under a bridge 14km from the couple’s Brookfield home, and the case became one of the nation’s highest profile criminal investigations.

Baden-Clay, now 46, was convicted of Allison’s murder and is serving a life sentence.

Yesterday, more than 170 people attended a fundraiser for the Allison Baden-Clay Foundation, which aims to raise awareness about domestic violence.

Allison’s family and friends were joined by detectives and sporting stars.

Allison Baden-Clay.

Pictures: Supplied

The Dickies are raising the girls with the support of family and friends. Mr Dickie said the first question people asked was about the girls.

“The girls are strong. They are an example to us of the strength of young people who have been in a horrific situation, but they get on with life. They love their school, they are excelling in everything they do and they are wonderful kids,” he said.

Since Allison’s murder there had been a stream of women losing their lives to their partners, Mr Dickie said.

Women had told them they had left abusive or violent relationships as a result of hearing Allison’s story.

Baden-Clay’s conviction was downgraded to manslaughter on appeal before the High Court last year restored the murder conviction.

Ms Fowler said that with “the court hearings out of the way, we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel”.