Murdered mum Samantha Fraser’s children leave heartbreaking tribute

A SIMPLE white ribbon scrawled with a message from murdered Phillip Island woman Samantha Fraser’s children sums up the outpouring of grief since her death.

A SIMPLE white ribbon scrawled with a message from murdered woman Samantha Fraser’s children summed up the outpouring of grief since her death.

“We love you,’’ it read.

The heartbreaking tribute — sewn onto a patchwork quilt being made in Ms Fraser’s memory — came as her father Trevor said the public’s support was helping his grief-stricken family.

“The family would like to thank everyone,” he told the Sunday Herald Sun on behalf of Ms Fraser’s loved ones.

“We thank the community and the Homicide Squad for all their support and work.”

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Women tie a white ribbon to a tree to honour Samantha Fraser. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Mr Fraser yesterday met Prevention of Family Violence Minister Natalie Hutchins amid calls for a women’s refuge and more training for police dealing with family violence victims’ complaints on Phillip Island.

Locals tied white ribbons to trees, street signs, shopfronts and even dog collars in a stand against violence towards women.

Hundreds visited a floral memorial in Thompson Ave, pausing to reflect on Ms Fraser’s death.

Laying chrysanthemums — the flower traditionally given on Mother’s Day — local couple Julie Dusting, 52, and Alex Andrews, 57, said they hoped there would be more conversations on women’s safety happening around kitchen tables and in parliament.

“There should be male leaders getting up and talking about it, too. It shouldn’t just be left up to the women,” Mr Andrews said.

“Not enough is being done — it’s got to stop.”

A message written on a white ribbon by Samantha's daughter Jemima. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Local women, including social workers and domestic violence victims, told Ms Hutchins that police on the island were not adequately trained to deal with complaints of family violence — meaning they travelled as far as Wonthaggi and Dandenong to get help.

Ms Hutchins vowed to raise the concerns with Police Minister Lisa Neville, saying the government had statewide also built four of 19 planned “safety hubs” for women.

She said she would investigate what money could be committed to help locally.

Ms Fraser’s body was found in the garage of her Cowes home on July 23.

Clues at the scene, and injuries to her body, led detectives to believe the 38-year-old psychologist and mother of three had died at the hands of someone else.

Her estranged husband, Adrian Basham, 41, was on Thursday charged with her murder.

Mourners comfort each other at a community gathering in Cowes. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

The quilt being lovingly woven with messages from Ms Fraser’s friends and loved ones yesterday will be given to her children.

“We have to keep these stories going, too — the ones showing the community support and love,” friend Rebecca McIntosh said.

“We don’t want to allow this to happen again in our community or in any community.”

Preparations are under way for a funeral to be held at the end of the week.

Bass Coast Shire Council will meet tomorrow to begin planning a fundraising event for Ms Fraser’s family.

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