Community vigil to honour murdered couple Hoa Tek Chiem and Heang Kim Gau at Buzzy Bees

Hundreds of locals gathered at Western Sydney takeaway shop Buzzy Bees on Saturday night to pay tribute to the much-loved owners, who were brutally murdered last week.

Hoa Tek Chiem and Heang Kim Gau were found murdered in their Western Sydney takeaway store. Picture: Facebook

Saturday night crowds were not an unusual sight at Buzzy Bees takeaway at Cambridge Park in Western Sydney. The popular burger shop was an adored community fixture where locals would line up for “Ma and Pa’s” cooking.

But this Saturday was different.

The store was closed, its doors shuttered.

Instead of queuing for food, crowds gathered in the hundreds to mourn the brutal murders of its owners, Hoa Tek Chiem and his wife Heang Kim Gau.

Emotional locals hug at the vigil for Hoa Tek Chiem and his wife Heang Kim Gau, who were murdered at their takeaway store Buzzy Bees. Picture: Jeremy Piper

The footpath outside the shop has been adorned with flowers, teddies and written notes and drawings. Picture: Jeremy Piper

The memorial site is crammed with gifts, notes and candles. Picture: Jeremy Piper

Just a week earlier, the much-loved couple — Hoa, 69, and Heang, 68 — were stabbed to death inside the store they had operated for three decades.

Martin Swinnerton was the last customer to ever visit Buzzy Bees.

“This shouldn’t be happening. This shop should be open now and full of customers. Not like this,” he said.

“It hurts me because I was their last customer, the last person to speak to them in the community.

“Look at this turnout — and it’s just getting bigger and bigger.

“It’s beautiful. It goes to show how much people respected them and how many hearts they touched.”

Aleasha Murphy and son Jesse Dempsey. Picture: Jeremy Piper

One of the attendees is overcome at the vigil. Picture: Jeremy Piper

Regular Martin Swinnerton says he was the last customer to visit Buzzy Bees. Picture: Jeremy Piper

Community members pay out candles at the memorial for the much-loved couple. Picture: Jeremy Piper

Cambridge Park mum Aleasha Murphy, came down with her son Jesse Dempsey to pay their respects.

“I had to explain to my son that Buzzy Bees is no more. He said ‘where am I going to get my nuggets and chips from now, they are the only store that I like.’

“I never once saw them without a smile. They always cheered you up. I walked out every single time with a smile on my face.

“They were kind of like grandparents.

“They always asked about my kids and took a personal interest in everyone they saw. I think that is what registered with everyone.”

Hundreds gathered to pay their respects. Picture: Jeremy Piper

The solemn gathering lit up the dusk. Picture: Jeremy Piper

Vigial organisers talked about the legacy the couple would leave behind. Picture: Jeremy Piper

The takeaway shops to the right and left of the store shut early out of respect for Buzzy Bees.

At sunset, the crowd gathered to speak about their memories of Hoa and Heang, known as Tek and Kim, while holding candles and lights.

Vigil organiser Ben Keans spoke about the legacy the shop owners would leave.

“The flowers are going to wilt, the memories aren’t going to wilt. They will last forever.

“We can’t resurrect them from the dead but we can honour their memory.”

One of their two sons, Allan Chiem, 31, has been charged with their murder after he was arrested by police inside the family’s Canley Heights home.

Police allege Allan Chiem stabbed his parents to death and then fled through a roof cavity.

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