Friends of stabbing victim Kaitlin Jones reclaim Blacks Beach

The Mackay community is refusing to let the alleged stabbing of young hairdresser Kaitlin Jones keep them in fear with friends and strangers uniting in defiance.

Friends and strangers have united to put their feet in the sand to defiantly reclaim Blacks Beach as somewhere they have the right to feel safe.

It comes after the shocking incident on September 13 when a 16 year old allegedly repeatedly stabbed 23-year-old hairdresser Kaitlin Jones while she was sunbathing alone.

Kaitlin Jones, 23, who was allegedly stabbed by a stranger multiple times in a horrific attack while she was sunbathing on Blacks Beach.

Andergrove resident Demi Berkett said it was a “huge shock” to learn her friend was attacked but she was there to show the community they deserved feel safe on the beach.

“You hear stuff like that happening in movies but you never expect to hear it here,” Ms Berkett said.

Joining her was the extended Maxyn Asher Hair Salon family including co-owner Nicole McDonnell who said they were shocked and devastated for their co-worker.

“We’re just here to support her and create awareness for the safety of women in Mackay,” Ms McDonnell said.

“It’s not okay, that sort of behaviour.

“Mackay is not going to stand for it, we’re going to make our voices heard.”

Ms McDonnell said Ms Jones was “strong” and taking her recovery day-by-day with fellow co-owner Hannah Graham adding more must be done about youth crime to prevent the violence ever happening again.

Blacks Beach grandparent Kaylene Cocup was there to show her support but said it would take time before she again felt safe to take her grandchildren to the beach by herself.

“It is a little too close to home,” Ms Cocup said.

Star 101.9 presenters and event co-organisers Kaley Baker and Sam Blacker said it was a start to empowering the community, with games on hand to help make the beach a positive experience once again.

“By showing each other that others feel the same way we can start to reconnect and re-establish that feeling of security,” Ms Baker said.

Making quick use of the available outdoor sports was the Benson family with Prue, 5, and Ryan, 4, too young to understand what had happened just weeks before.

“It was a bit startling at first but we realised it was a rare occurrence so we can’t let that impact us too much on getting down to the beach,” mum Kirby said.

“We don’t want to live in fear and put that on the kids.”