Ex AFL player Steve Febey leads Melbourne tributes to Ash Good after Bondi Junction stabbing

The brave first-time mother who threw her baby to strangers while being attacked at Bondi Junction was the daughter of former North Melbourne player and board member Kerry Good.

The brave mother who threw her injured baby into the arms of strangers after being attacked in the horror Bondi Junction stabbing was the daughter of former North Melbourne player and club director Kerry Good.

Among the six innocent people killed by 40-year-old Joel Cauchi was first-time mother Ashlee Good, an osteopath who was originally from Melbourne.

She was extremely well known in the Melbourne community and the second eldest child of Kerry Good, who played for North Melbourne in the VFL during the 1970s and 1980s.

Ex Demons player Steve Febey was also close friends with Dr Good and shared a heartbreaking tribute to her on Sunday morning.

Steve Febey said he was shattered by the death of Ash Good.

“Words fail me, absolutely shattered and can’t comprehend how this could happen to the most amazing, beautiful and caring human,” Febey said.

“I will always cherish our friendship and the great times we shared. Love ya forever Ash.”

Febey shared a series of images of the pair side-by-side, smiling at various trips and social outings.

North Melbourne players in Sunday’s match against Geelong wore black armbands to honour Dr Good, who was “known and loved by many in the North Melbourne community”.

Club President Dr Sonja Hood said the club had been left “tremendously saddened” by the news.

“Like all Australians, we were horrified to see the awful details coming out of Sydney on Saturday,” she said.

“To learn later that Ashlee and her daughter were victims in this tragedy really brings something like this close to home.

Steven Febey with Ash Good, who was well known in the Melbourne community. Picture: Instagram

“Our thoughts and condolences go to all those impacted by the awful events, especially to Ashlee’s partner Daniel Flanagan, Kerry and Dian, Ashlee’s mother Denise, and Ashlee’s extended family and friends.

“Kerry and his family are incredibly important people in our club’s history and we offer them our love and support through what is an unimaginably difficult time.”

AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said many people in the football community who knew the Good family had been devastated by the “horrific and random” attack.

“I know so many people who know Kerry and the family are hurting and the football world is united in its sympathy for the Good family and the many people across our North Melbourne and football community and the wider community who have been affected by this attack,” Mr Dillon said.

Steve Febey with his close friend, Ash Good. Picture: Instagram

“You shudder when you hear the news on Saturday and find it hard to comprehend that an activity that is so normal and so common to every Australian family, could end so tragically.”

In an emotional TV interview before Sunday’s match, North Melbourne coach Alastair Clarkston became teary as he described the heartache caused by the mass stabbing.

“It’s shocking for our club and in particular the Good family,” He said on Fox Sports.

“Kerry’s been a significant part of our club for a long time, it’s just so sad. Ashlee and that beautiful little girl Harriet, not going to have a mum. It breaks our hearts.

“What breaks our hearts even more is humanity, this is happening in our country. We’re going to get the same excuse (drugs and alcohol) we’ve got to do something about it. There’s got to be a time where it just stops.”

Kerry Good played North Melbourne in the VFL during the 1970s and 1980s.

Former player Cameron Mooney, who made his debut at the club in the 1990s when Kerry Good was a board member, placed his arm around Mr Clarkson as he held back tears.

“The strange part about it is, you get to the next day and all these boys (team) get to do what they just love and that’s been denied to Ashlee and five other families,” Mr Clarkson said.

“Our hearts are pretty low today.”

Popular 38-year-old Dr Good also played basketball for the Melbourne Tigers in her junior years, with former teammates remembering her as a “strong and talented” player.

Samantha Tomlinson, whose sister played in the same team as Dr Good, offered condolences to her family.

“This was a terrible act that played out in Bondi and when you know them, it hurts a whole lot more,” she said.

Dr Good’s former school, St Joseph’s College Echuca, said she was “highly respected and admired by her friends, peers and staff members”.

“Our St Joseph’s College community extends heartfelt sympathy to the family, friends and loved ones of Ashlee Good,” the school posted to social media.

“We are deeply shocked and saddened by the tragic events that unfolded in Sydney on Saturday, and our thoughts and prayers are with all who have been affected.

“Ash is a former student of St Joseph’s College Echuca and was highly respected and admired by her friends, peers and staff members.

“The impact of this unthinkable tragedy has touched so many, and will continue to be deeply felt throughout our community.”

Childhood friend Carley Beer said Dr Good’s death was “absolutely devastating”.

“Childhood full of basketball and netball trainings and tournament(s) with wonderful memories of your strong, talented and passionate personality,” she wrote online.

“Sending love and strength to your beautiful baby girl, your husband, your (mum) and family.”

In an emotional tribute on Sunday morning, relatives thanked the public for the outpouring of grief after Dr Good was killed and her baby daughter Harriet, nine months, was injured.

“We appreciate the well wishes and thoughts of members of the Australian public who have expressed an outpouring of love for Ashlee and our baby girl,” the family said.

“We can report that after hours of surgery yesterday our baby is currently doing well. We are so grateful for the expert care and attention of the medical team at Sydney Children’s Hospital.”

The family also thanked the NSW Police for their kindness and diligence, and for getting baby Harriet the care she needed.

“To the two men who held and cared for our baby when Ashlee could not — words cannot express our gratitude.

Steve Febey described Ash Good as a beautiful, caring woman. Picture: Instagram

“We are struggling to come to terms with what has occurred. We would appreciate peace and privacy while we work through this as a family.”

A fundraiser for Dr Good had by Sunday morning already raised $110,084.

Steven Foxwell, a friend of Dr Good’s, said the tragedy was “just unthinkable”.

“Our hearts are broken beyond comprehension this morning (Sunday),” he said in a statement about the fundraiser.

“The events that took place in Bondi yesterday are just unthinkable. It has shaken not just our community but the world, and the devastating news that we lost our beautiful friend Ash Good.

“Her amazing soul and light captured the hearts of so many of us.

“She was so heroic in her final moments, so brave as a mother, we love you Ash.”

Macnamara MP Josh Burns said the images out of Bondi were extremely haunting following the Bourke St attack in 2017.

Asked if there was relief that the incident was not terrorism related, given the Jewish population in Bondi Junction, Mr Burns said: “I don’t think there’s any relief here”.

He said people felt devastation for the victims who were senselessly murdered. “We send our heartfelt sympathies to their families and to their friends,” he told Sky News.

“They will be in mourning this morning and we stand shoulder to shoulder with them.

“The bravery that we saw from other people in the shopping center was extraordinary.

“We saw the very worst of Australia and the very best of Australia in the same place.”

Dr Good has been remembered as someone dedicated to helping others.

In 2008 and 2009, she travelled to Nepal with Aussie Action Abroad, a not-for-profit that helps build schools and runs workshops in the region.

“Aussie Action Abroad Board participants and past participants of OzQuest are shocked and saddened to hear of the loss of our past participant Ash Good in the recent stabbing incident in Sydney,” the charity said in a statement.

“Ash was an active participant in our Health Team in Nepal in 2008/2009 and as a young osteopath was able to share her skills, compassion and healthcare to those in need.

“Ash became a leading and vibrant health worker supporting many elite athletes, mums and followers of her healthy lifestyle posts.

“We send our prayers, thoughts and healing wishes to her young daughter and her family.

Thank you, Ash for all your love, sharing and support.”