Kirstan Ross: The thought on every woman’s mind after vigil for Eurydice Dixon

THERE was safety in numbers for mourners at the moving Melbourne vigil in memory of Eurydice Dixon, but each attendee was faced with a familiar inner debate immediately after, writes Kirstan Ross.

STANDING huddled like penguins on the eve of the coldest day of the year at Eurydice Dixon’s vigil, there was safety in numbers.

But as the crowd of 10,000 disbanded following the moving tribute at Princes Park in Carlton North, ironically, a journey home under a blanket of winter darkness beckoned for everyone there.

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Inner-city residents were faced with the familiar inner debate: to walk a short distance home through side streets after a tram or train ride, cycle, or — if phone battery or cash flow allowed — to catch a cab or Uber.

But as obvious as the latter is, sadly, it’s not a foolproof solution.

Mourners at the Reclaim Princes Park vigil for Eurydice Dixon in Carlton North. Picture: Jason Edwards

We’re conflicted, racked with guilt because a distance of perhaps a few hundred metres seems too short to deem worthy of bothering a driver who is looking for a better fare.

And, even if we decide to book that car, the time spent waiting for it to turn up might render it a useless decision, leaving us standing out in the cold on a dimly-lit street for longer than it would have taken to walk.

Sometimes it’s not practical to compete for a ride with thousands of others at a large event, as demand outweighs supply.

Then, sadly, there’s the real fear your driver might assault you, or worse still.

Aspiring comedian Eurydice Dixon was raped and murdered just 900m from home. Picture: Facebook

Last year in Melbourne’s northeast, a woman the same age as Eurydice, 22, was sexually assaulted after accepting a lift from a man posing as an Uber driver.

And in 2015, another woman, also 22, was raped by an Uber driver, the driver subsequently jailed for six years following the Sydney attack.

Even more predatory was the UK’s “black cab rapist” John Worboys, who carried out more than 100 rapes and sexual assaults on unsuspecting women between 2002 and 2008.

Worboys became one of the UK’s most prolific rapists, giving his victims drug-laced champagne before attacking them in the back of his cab.

Floral tributes at the vigil for Eurydice Dixon. Picture: Jason Edwards

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Last night, women - as well as men and children — reflected on the fragility of life, knowing how easily and indiscriminately tragedy could strike.

United in sorrow, our stories are familiar. The masses, myself included, wanted to finish their journey home, reclaiming our streets as well as Princes Park.

Some walked home from the vigil much further than the short 900m distance Eurydice had left on that ill-fated night almost a week ago, like they had always done, and will do again.

Many paired up, others walked in groups, and some traipsed alone across their familiar neighbourhood turf, buoyed by the powerful outpouring of emotion on display, and yet cautious as always.

But sadly, evil predators have a plan of their own.

The reality for women is that even if we do all we can to stay safe, there is only so much of our own safety we can control.