Prime Minister Scott Morrison visits Bundoora tribute site for Aiia Maasarwe after day of vigils
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has visited the makeshift memorial site for murdered exchange student Aiia Maasarwe in Bundoora this afternoon. It comes after a day of vigils which were attended by Ms Maasarwe’s father and hundreds of Melburnians.
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Prime Minister Scott Morrison has visited the makeshift memorial site for murdered exchange student Aiia Maasarwe in Bundoora this afternoon.
He was accompanied by his wife, Jenny, and their two daughters, Abbey and Lily. The family brought flowers and paid their respects.
The Prime Minister spent time reading notes and cards left for Aiia Maasarwe, whose body was found at the site, near Polaris shopping centre, on Wednesday morning.
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Mr Morrison declined to speak to the media but later wrote: “Earlier today, with Jen and the girls, we visited the Polaris Town Centre at Bundoora with other families and fellow Australians to pay our respects and grieve the loss of Aiia.
“Later today I will meet with her father. I cannot imagine his loss.”
He shook hands with other people paying tribute at the scene before leaving with his family.
A man has since been charged with murdering Ms Maasarwe.
It comes the day after after hundreds of Melburnians stood in silence at the Bundoora park where the 21-year-old was murdered.
Friday marked a day of vigils as family, friends and strangers gathered at La Trobe University, Parliament House and on the 86 tram.
Hundreds of Melburnians gathered at Parliament House on Friday evening to honour murdered international student Aiia Maasarwe.
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Family, friends and strangers spilled out past the building’s steps, with most wearing black and some carrying flowers.
The 86 tram departed Bourke St at 8.01pm and stopped to pick up passengers as it made its way to Bundoora.
Strangers shared tears, laughter and song as the tram, full of flowers, snaked its way from outside Parliament to Bundoora. At each stop, people got on to leave more flowers.
Hundreds of people held candles along the route through Melbourne’s northern suburbs before it made its final stop near La Trobe University.
A small note with a big message stuck on the inside of the 86 tram as it nears Bundoora. “My prayer is for a world free of sexual violence,†the note reads. @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/VJDSyNO78R
— Tamsin Rose (@tamsinroses) January 18, 2019
An anonymous note stuck to the inside of the tram read: “My prayer is for a world free of sexual violence.”
Dozens of people got into the tram as strangers but shared stories and tears during the hour-long journey.
Brunswick East man Chad Toprak, 29, shed a tear as he rode the tram.
“The loss of Aiia is a loss for us all,” he said.
“I feel hurt and I share her family’s pain.”
A man played the traditional Muslim funeral prayer Surah Yasin from his phone.
Shortly afterwards, Melbourne woman Clarissa Dodawec broke into an opera aria as the tram pulled up beside Northcote Town Hall.
“There is something about the arts that connects us all,” she said.
“When I heard about the flower tram I was deeply moved.
“This has been a beautiful ritual.”
The tram full of flowers arrived in Bundoora at 9.10pm, greeted by hundreds of people waiting at the park where the young woman’s body was found on Wednesday morning.
Flowers were taken from the tram and added to the growing makeshift memorial.
The sea of flowers at the place where Aiia Masarwe’s body was found in Bundoora continues to grow as people from the floral tribute tram leave their bunches. Hundreds of people watch on and pay their respects. @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/JSf1Az8Ftk
— Tamsin Rose (@tamsinroses) January 18, 2019
A women sings opera as the 86 stops outside Nothcote Town Hall where tens of people got boarded the tram to leave floral tributes to remember Aiia. @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/c1iGnSC0Fn
— Tamsin Rose (@tamsinroses) January 18, 2019
Earlier Ms Maasarwe’s father, Saeed, who attended the Parliament House vigil, said it was “really helpful and supports us”.
“I want to appreciate all the people here, all the community,” Mr Maasarwe said.
“When I see all the people here, this huge people, people support us and feels good feeling.
“We appreciate all of them in my name and family name.”
Hundreds of people still arriving at the silent vigil at Parliament. Mourners spilling out past the steps. @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/soTNmqkUkN
— Tamsin Rose (@tamsinroses) January 18, 2019
Mr Maasarwe said his daughter was “very happy” in Melbourne.
“She liked everything here in Australia; she had a good time here,” he said.
“The five months she was here she have enjoy.”
Melbourne musician Nai Palm offers condolences to Aiia’s father Saeed. The pair laughed and cried together. Her bird hopped on Saeed’s shoulder as the two spoke. @theheraldsun pic.twitter.com/JLbbijVCKE
— Tamsin Rose (@tamsinroses) January 18, 2019
Eliza, 24, broke down in tears as she explained why she felt she needed to attend the CBD vigil.
“I’m here because I’ve been lucky enough to get home safe every night and not everyone else has,” she said.
“It’s not right, that fear we feel when we get off the tram and walk home at night.
“It feels normal but it shouldn’t.”
Another woman, Heather, said she couldn’t believe she was here again so soon after Eurydice Dixon’s vigil at Princes Park last year.
“Every woman deserves to feel safe — to be safe,” she said.
“This whole thing is soul-destroying.
“I am here to pay my respects for her family.”
She said she wanted things to change more broadly in society.
“Change needs to start from he way we raise young boys,” she said.
“How many times does this have to happen?”
Earlier on Friday, hundreds of students, friends and staff paid their respects to Ms Maasarwe at a lunchtime memorial at La Trobe University.
A candlelit table holding up a smiling photo of the 21-year-old was the focus of the gathering, adorned by flowers.
Among those paying tribute to Aiia Maasarwe at a ceremony was 21-year-old Ashleigh Brandse, who herself was assaulted on the same tram line three years ago.
Ms Brandse, accompanied by her mother Linda, said more should have been done to prevent Aiia’s death.
“Maybe if police helped me more (after he incident) something like this wouldn’t have happened,” she said.
“This should have been one of the best experiences of her life, studying abroad.”
Ms Brandse said in 2016, on her third day at La Trobe, that she was randomly attacked by a woman in broad daylight on the route 86 tram line, just one tram stop away from where Aiia was found.
The fourth year student said cameras need to be set up at all tram stops.
“It really hit close to home, she’s the same age as me,” Ms Brandse said.
“I’ve never caught a tram or public transport since I was attacked.
“I make sure I drive everywhere now, no matter how much it costs.”
Students held hands, prayed and read heartfelt messages for Aiia at the memorial.
The university’s vice chancellor John Dewar said the entire community was grieving.
“We lost a talented, young woman,” he said.
“To fellow students and to those that taught Aiia … we all share in your grief.”
Mr Dewar reassured students that their safety remained the top priority moving forward.
“I am absolutely determined that the La Trobe community will make sure that this will never happen again,” he said.
“We will do everything we can to ensure that happens.”
College Principal Tony Cranshaw said he felt for what the family of Ms Maasarwe are going through.
“I cannot begin to imagine what you are feeling,” he said.
“On behalf of the staff and students … I wish to express to you our heartfelt condolences and we offer you our full support.”
Following the ceremony, mourners placed flowers and lit candles by Aiia’s photo.
THURSDAY: AIIA’S FRIENDS SAY STRONGER LAWS NEEDED
Friends of 21-year-old student Aiia Maasarwe, killed on her way home from the city, have demanded her killer be thrown in jail for life.
Friend Mangirish Bordawekar said stronger laws were needed.
“Whoever did this deserves a life sentence because you’ve not only taken a life but you’ve destroyed a family,” he said.
“I hope we will change our laws to better protect our daughters, sisters, wives and mothers.”
Mr Bordawekar described Aiia as a “beautiful soul” and said he will dearly miss the “happy, go-lucky girl”.
Mr Bordawekar had known Aiia for about five months while she studied at La Trobe University.
He apologised to her family on behalf of those who knew her in Australia.
“We are sorry as Australians for what has happened to Aiia,” he said.
Others teared up as they left flowers and heartfelt messages at the scene where her body was discovered.
Local community members, students at La Trobe University and women who organised the Ms Dixon’s vigil each expressed deep sadness and safely concerns.
Melbourne comedian Doug Chappel said he felt “terrible and sickened” to know Ms Maasarwe was killed after leaving his gig at the Comic’s Lounge in North Melbourne.
“It was such a great show and everyone was so happy, I’m just gutted that something so evil would happen after such a happy time where she was most likely laughing and enjoying herself an hour or so before,” he said.
“A few months ago we also lost Eurydice Dixon who was coming home from
a gig and now this … we really need to do better as a society.”
Tributes left at the site where Ms Masarwe’s body was found on Wednesday morning painted a picture of love, shock and fear.
One note said: “Everyone has the right to get home safely.”
Another person wrote: “My heart aches that you were not safe in our community. You are loved.”
A young local woman, Jesse, broke down as she told the media she often walked past the place where the victim was found.
“I don’t think women should be discouraged to walk home,” she said.
Local father of four Con Ippolito prayed as he laid flowers on a milk crate marking where the young women was found.
He almost broke down in tears as he spoke of his concerns for his children’s safety.
“We used to be able to leave our door open at night but now we can’t even walk … you have to look over the back of your head,” he said. “You have to watch your back — it’s beyond a joke.
“I make my kids let me know wherever they go. I am scared something is going to happen to them and they might not come home.”
Tributes have also been left online, with Tarek Amarne writing: “One of the best girls that we knew.”
Another man wrote “God bless you sweetheart” and asked for the community not to spread rumours about the tragedy.
Marah Zabad wrote it was “tragic” and called for an end to violence.
“There aren’t many words possible,” she said.
La Trobe University students say they are struggling to come to terms with the shocking murder of the young Arab-Israeli exchange student less than 2kms from campus.
Students told the Herald Sun the death was a “terrifying reminder” for young women.
“We heard this morning that she went here — it’s really shaken us knowing how close it was,” one student said.
“It could’ve happens to anyone.”
Another female student said she was already nervous walking to her car around campus in the evening.
“You’re always wary and looking over your shoulder,” she said.
“It’s really scary … it makes you not feel safe.”
Fewer students were on campus on Thursday, with semester one classes not beginning until March 4.
However summer classes are currently running.
After the murder of Eurydice Dixon last year, a group of women organised a Reclaim Princes Park Vigil in her honour.
Thousands attended the event at the inner Melbourne park to pay their respects to a young life lost and what is meant more broadly for the community.
Less than a year later one of the organisers of that event, Jessamy Gleeson, 29, said more needs to be done to keep all women safe.
“We’re as angry as we were last time,” she told the Herald Sun.
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“There’s always a mixture there of anger and sadness and not wanting this to happen.”
She said despite a huge public outpouring last winter, the society itself has not changed.
“The conversation alone hasn’t been enough,” she said.
“There needs to be more cultural changes, to change these inherent attitudes that we have.
“It’s pushing a rock up a hill and then having it roll back down and hit you again and again.
“We shouldn’t have these one-off vigils.
“There needs to be continued engagement and conversation about violence against women.”
— With Andrea Hamblin, Genevieve Alison and Aneeka Simonis
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