Candlelight vigil to be held for Maryborough murder victim Linda Lovett

She was brutally stabbed to death by a blood-thirsty client at a Maryborough motel. Now, a vulnerable sex worker and other “invisible” victims will be honoured at a special memorial.

Linda Lovett was 58 when she was stabbed to death in a small Maryborough motel room on November 3, 2018.

A candlelight vigil will be held this month and a plaque unveiled to honour the memory of a woman slaughtered at Queensland motel.

Linda Lovett was 58 when she was stabbed to death in a small Maryborough room on November 3, 2018.

The Thai sex worker and her killer arranged to meet for sex after he found her through a classified ad.

She’d been staying at the hotel for about a week and had plans to go to Brisbane but her client had murder on his mind.

The man, who had secretly brought a knife with him, arrived and showered before the two engaged in sexual activities.

After he had gotten what he wanted, he approached Ms Lovett and stabbed her multiple times to her head, neck and upper body.

She attempted to escape, walking towards the door of the motel room, while the man also walked to the door, slipping on her blood and falling over.

Other guests and the manager heard screams and saw Ms Lovett stumble from the room, covered in blood.

She did not make it far outside the door before she succumbed to her wounds, which included a cut to the neck – later determined as the cause of death due to blood loss.

Forensic officers at the scene of the murder at Maryborough City Motel. Photo: Fraser Coast Chronicle

After the man was sentenced to life in prison earlier this year for her murder, the Fraser Coast Chronicle campaigned for a memorial to honour Ms Lovett, who had no family in Australia and whom little was known about.

The Chronicle believes there is an unspoken hierarchy of victims when it comes to media coverage and public sympathy and in the aftermath of the court case, it was important to ensure Ms Lovett would not become a forgotten victim.

Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour said the purpose of the memorial was to remember Ms Lovett as an individual.

The project to create a memorial for Ms Lovett was funded by the Fraser Coast Regional Council and spearheaded by the Zonta Club of Maryborough.

Mr Seymour said the crime that had claimed Ms Lovett’s life was “shockingly violent” and it was important to the community to show how much it cared.

He encouraged people to come along to the vigil to honour Ms Lovett’s memory.

The candlelight vigil for invisible victims of violence and in memory of Ms Lovett will be held at the Elizabeth Park Rose Gardens at the corner of Kent and Tooley Streets on November 25 from 6pm to 6.30pm.

A memorial seat will also be unveiled at that time.

On November 26, the public will also be invited to the Zonta Club’s walk against gender-based violence.

It will begin at 9am with a walk from Maryborough City Hall to the Elizabeth Park Rose Gardens.