Crowds gather at Melbourne’s Royal Park for Courtney Herron vigil

Hundreds of people have gathered at Melbourne’s Royal Park ahead of a vigil to pay tribute to 25-year-old woman Courtney Herron who was found dead in the park last week.

Bright bouquets of flowers and a large framed photo of Courtney Herron have been placed at the site where her body was found last Saturday.

Hundreds of people joined Ms Herron’s family and friends on a gloomy and grey Friday afternoon in the middle of Royal Park in Parkville.

Relatives of the 25-year-old arrived at the site before 5pm and shared tears and held each other ahead of a planned vigil.

Ms Herron’s body was discovered beside a pile of logs in the park by a dog walker.

Ms Herron’s mother Metaxia, known as ‘Maxie’, gave an emotional address to thank the crowd for coming.

Through tears, she said she was moved by the support from so many strangers and knew her daughter was looking down from Heaven.

As she finished speaking, a steady downpour began to drench the crowd.

Mourners at the vigil for slain woman Courtney Herron. Picture: AAP

Mourners at Royal Park. Picture: AAP

Crowds gather around the makeshift memorial. Picture: Jason Edwards

The vigil for Courtney Herron in Royal Park. Picture: Jason Edwards

Crowds turned out in the rain and cold to honour Courtney. Picture: Jason Edwards

Mourners pay their respects to family members in Royal Park. Picture: Getty Images

Family members gather in Royal Park. Picture: Getty Images

A makeshift shrine honours Courtney Herron. Picture: Getty Images

Hundreds of people turned out despite the rain and cold. Picture: Getty Images

One of the organisers of the vigil, Jessamy Gleeson, said the vigil was the 11th she had either organised or attended so far this year for murdered women and children.

Ms Gleeson is from a group called We Keep Vigil.

She said the solemn ceremonies were a way to honour those who had been killed and to take a stand against violence perpetrated by men.

Sadly, she said, there would inevitably be more vigils held this year.

“That’s really depressing to say. Statistically speaking there are about 60 or 70 women murdered in Australia each year. That’s why we’re pushing for greater attention on the issue through this,” she said.

The crowd reached about 500 people, with a mixture of men and women, young and old, clutching scarves and umbrellas and standing side by side in silence for close to an hour before the vigil ended at 6.30pm.

Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp attended.

A Victoria Police spokesman said a framed photo was stolen from the vigil but later recovered.

A man was arrested however Ms Herron’s family did not want charges laid.

The man was taken to hospital for an assessment.

A GoFundMe page was set up by the Melbourne Homeless Collective to raise money for the funeral expenses in order “to save her family from further grief of having to find funds to bury their daughter”.

As of Friday afternoon the page had raised $13,000.

gofundme.com/courtney-herron-funeral-fund