Megan Pritchard: Toyah Cordingley remembered on five year anniversary of death
Five years ago, in early October, long time best friend Megan Pritchard and Toyah Cordingley had breakfast together and Megan surprised Toyah with a giftbox containing a note “will you be my bridesmaid?” It was the last time she would see her friend.
Cairns
Don't miss out on the headlines from Cairns. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Five years ago, in early October, long time best friend Megan Pritchard and Toyah Cordingley had breakfast together and Megan surprised Toyah with a giftbox containing a note “will you be my bridesmaid?”
Toyah smiled broadly and instantly began excitedly planning the wedding and afterwards the couple took some pictures against colourful street art in a nearby alley.
Megan did not know it, but it was the last time she would see her friend.
Posting a picture of the beautiful gift box, Toyah said “thank you for thinking of me, Megan. After so many years of knowing each other, it is more than a pleasure to share these moments and watch as our lives change with each new adventure”.
Megan would honour Toyah by bravely going forward to live her best life, with a beautiful wedding – and wedding pictures that included her holding a photo of Toyah, who should have been by her side on that special day.
“On that day, I never knew it would be the last day I would ever see you again,” Megan posted on the five year anniversary of their joyous breakfast.
“I can say grief doesn’t go away. I hurt and cry all the time. I just seem to have learned how to live with the pain,” she said.
“Every day, I’m reminded of you and how many wonderful and spectacular memories we created growing up.
“This year is one of the hardest months for me – every year, every day, every minute you’re gone.”
Toyah had the world at her feet.
She closely bonded with mother Vanessa and stepfather Darren Gardiner and her sister Leynah and brother Jack.
Toyah and her father Troy Cordingley had countless fun moments. She called him ‘Daddio’, he called her “bright eyes”.
She was in a happy relationship with Marco Heidenreich, who has grieved privately.
Loved ones meant more to Toyah than material things.
She was the sort of person who left those who had even the briefest interaction with her smiling.
Toyah was passionate about animal welfare and worked in both a voluntary and paid capacity at animal shelters.
She loved being outdoors, especially at the beach, where her sister took a memorable picture of her holding a sign saying “do more of what makes you happy”.
That tragic Sunday, she popped into Rusty’s markets before heading home to pick up her dog and go for a long ramble on Wangetti Beach, a place she had visited often.
She would never return.
Toyah’s body was found at 7.45am the following morning buried in sand on the beach.
Former Innisfail nurse Rajwinder Singh, 39, has been charged with her murder and remanded in custody at Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre.
More Coverage
Originally published as Megan Pritchard: Toyah Cordingley remembered on five year anniversary of death
Hwy reopened, three hospitalised following multi-vehicle crash
The Kennedy Highway has been reopened to traffic following multi-vehicle crash, which left three people hospitalised, on Thursday afternoon.
‘Hectic wildfire season’: Deliberately lit bushfires
A Far North Queensland-based firefighter has warned many homes are not prepared for fire-season as crews contain fires claimed to be deliberately lit.