Sculpture unveiled in memory of Rozelle fire victims Chris Noble, Bianka O’Brien and baby Jude on second anniversary of tragic event

FAMILIES of those who perished in the Rozelle convenience store fire say a new memorial is not about how their loved ones died, but a celebration of how they lived.

Mother of victim Liz Noble, at the unveiling of the permanent statue by artist Jimmy Rix which commemorates the loss of three lives in the Rozelle explosion. Photo: Costa Atzemis

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A SCULPTURE unveiled in Rozelle to honour the victims of the Rozelle fire is a celebration of how they lived, say their families, not a reminder of how they died.

The memorial sculpture to Chris Noble, Bianka O’Brien and her infant son Jude was unveiled at a service on Saturday and attended by family, friends and residents.

The service marked the second anniversary since the Rozelle residents perished in the deliberately lit fire at the Darling St convenience store.

The store’s owner Adeel Khan was found guilty of the killings and last month sentenced to 40 years in prison.

Chris’ mother, Liz Noble, said the memorial was in honour of the happy lives her son, Bianka and Jude led in the community.

Rozelle fire victims, Bianka O'Brien and her baby Jude.

“The aim of the memorial was to give the community and family a place where they can go and remember; it wasn’t to be a depressing or a maudlin memorial,” she said.

“It’s hopefully recognition to the Rozelle community for the damage the explosion and fire did to them and how wonderfully they all rallied to fix things up.”

The sculpture is set within a small garden on the corner of Darling and Nelson streets — a site chosen by both families.

The sculpture incorporates three love hearts, representing the lives of each victim, and the words “celebrating the community who loved them”.

Chris Noble had played for the Sydney University Lions gridiron team

Mrs Noble said a boat at the top of the sculpture symbolises the journey of life and Chris’ love for the harbour.

“Chris absolutely loved Sydney Harbour — he loved living in Rozelle and being in that area because it was so close to the water,” she said.

“He’d go down there and fish ... he just loved the harbour bridge.”

Mrs Noble and her husband Ross — who live in Canowindra — said the family regularly came back to Rozelle.

The memorial sculpture is set within a small garden on Rozelle’s Darling Street.

“I’m coming to Rozelle every second or third weekend because I actually feel closer to Chris down there,” she said.

“I miss everything about him — I miss him missing out on a wonderful happy future.

“You don’t ever envisage anything like that happening to your child.”

Families worked with the Inner West Council on the memorial, designed by artist Jimmy Rix, with landscaping by Phillipsmarler.

The boat incorporated in the memorial represents the journey of life, and Chris Noble’s love for Sydney Harbour.

Liz said the response from the community had brought comfort to the family.

“It was an absolute disaster for the community and some of the businesses are still not back on their feet,” she said.

“To have that support from the community — you can’t even put it in to words.”

Rozelle Explosion memorial sculpture and garden placed on Darling Street Rozelle.

Artist Jimmy Rix said the memorial unveiling was lovely.

“I only met Chris’ family but they were delighted with the sculpture,” he said.

Mr Rix said he was surprised but pleased to see how members of the community had already begun to interact with the artwork he created.

“People put flowers at the base, which was really touching,” Mr Rix said. “We want people to engage with it, and reflect on what happened here — I think the heart motifs help people connect with that.”

Adeel Khan was sentenced to 40 years jail for deliberately lighting the fire in his convenience store. Picture: Adam Taylor