Reclaim Princes Park: Thousands unite at vigil for Eurydice Dixon
FRIENDS and strangers are standing in silent solidarity at Princes Park, where floodlights have been switched off for a candlelight vigil to remember Eurydice Dixon.
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THOUSANDS of mourners gathered in Princes Park to honour murdered comedian Eurydice Dixon.
Friends, families and strangers lay flowers and lit candles in memory of the 22-year-old who was raped and murdered while walking home through the park last week.
Up to 10,000 people braved the wintry night to gather on the soccer pitch where Ms Dixon’s body was found in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
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Jaymes Todd, 19, has been charged with Ms Dixon’s death and has been remanded in custody.
Classmates from Princes Hill Secondary College, where Ms Dixon attended, hugged each other and cried as they lay flowers and blew kisses to their school friend.
Premier Daniel Andrews and his wife Catherine held hands as they lay flowers for Ms Dixon.
Ms Andrews was seen wiping away tears as the couple hugged.
Mr Andrews said the vigil was a “source of great pride” from him and wife Cath.
“This is a desperately sad case, a terrible waste, an act of evil but it was so reassuring, so comforting,” he said.
“It was a great tribute to Eurydice Dixon and all the people who loved her and were close to her but (it was) also a tribute to the spirit of Melburnians, Victorians.
“We won’t be defined by this, we won’t be beaten by this.”
Floodlights above the soccer pitch were turned off for half an hour as mourners stood in silent solidarity.
A choir of women broke the silence with an emotional rendition of “Hallelujah”.
Organiser of the Reclaim Princes Park memorial Taria Shafiq said the event was about honouring the memory of a young woman taken too soon.
“Eurydice’s life impacted so many people,” she said.
“Tonight is about mourning her.”
It’s a cold and it’s a broken Hallelujah. RIP Eurydice Dixon @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/rh8fnFSVKB
— Genevieve Alison (@GenevieveAlison) June 18, 2018
Ms Shafiq said tonight was “a non-political space” and the time for action would come later.
Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton visited the memorial on Monday to pay respects to the talented young comedian, laying a bouquet of flowers.
Landmarks across the city were illuminated in orange — the colour of the international campaign to end violence against women — on Monday night.
Afterwards, Ms Dixon’s father posted a message on the event’s Facebook page: “Thanks people.”
Hundreds of friends and strangers have begun to gather at Princes Park where a candlelight vigil will shortly begin for Eurydice Dixon @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/tJHNm84Y1h
— Genevieve Alison (@GenevieveAlison) June 18, 2018
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‘WE SAY NEVER AGAIN’: PM PAYS TRIBUTE TO EURYDICE
MALCOLM Turnbull earlier paid tribute to murdered Melbourne woman Eurydice Dixon in federal Parliament and declared that women “must be safe everywhere”.
The Prime Minister said every Australian woman should feel safe on the street, walking to a park, in their homes and at work.
He told Question Time that we must “change the hearts of men to respect women”.
The 22-year-old was raped and murdered while walking home from a stand-up gig in a Melbourne bar last week.
Her body was discovered on a soccer field in Carlton, sparking an outpouring of grief and anger about violence against women.
“We start with the youngest men, the little boys, our sons and grandsons, and make sure that they respect their mothers and sisters and all the women in their lives,” Mr Turnbull said.
“As grown men, we must lead by example and treat women with respect and we must ensure that our cities, our towns, our country … everywhere … is safe for every Australian to walk and work, whether it is a park, a workplace, whether it is in their own home.”
Mr Turnbull said Ms Dixon’s death was “a heartbreaking tragedy” and we “must never, ever, ever, tolerate violence against women”.
“Eurydice Dixon, we mourn the loss. We grieve with her family. And we say never again,” he said.
Mr Turnbull was responding to a question from Greens MP for Melbourne, Adam Bandt, who said Melburnians were in mourning.
“People in Melbourne are grieving at the death of Eurydice Dixon,” Mr Bandt said.
“Melbourne is all full strong, funny women like Eurydice Dixon and this has hit us hard.”
Labor leader Bill Shorten said as a resident of Melbourne he was shocked.
“My own boy has trained around the very oval where they found Eurydice Dixon,” he said.
“It is shocking, futile, and beyond belief. Women in Australia have a right to movement. It is not the fault of women if they choose to walk home.”