Murray St child massacre: Jade Atkinson and Faith McGreen speak on 10th anniversary

It has been a decade since Jade Atkinson and Faith McGreen lost their friend in an unimaginable tragedy. Today they met to remember her, the oldest child killed at 14, and to honour all eight “angels” who lost their lives in one of the most horrific cases in Australian history.

It has been a decade since Jade Atkinson and Faith McGreen lost their friend in the unimaginable tragedy of Murray Street.

On Wednesday, they met to remember her, the oldest child killed at 14, and to honour all eight “angels” who lost their lives in the tragedy in December 2014, alongside the broader community.

The children were aged between 14 and two years of age, and have not been named for cultural reasons.

They were killed by Raina Thaiday, who was found to be of unsound mind.

Friends Jade Atkinson, daughter Poppy, 1, baby Ava McGreen,5 months, and Faith McGreen attended the service in Murray Street Park. Picture: Brendan Radke

Seven of the children were her own, and one child was her niece.

Friends, community, service providers, youth groups and first responders came together in the Murray Street Park next to the eight frangipani trees, which were planted at the site of the killings to honour the children’s lives.

Ms Atkinson, 24, and Ms McGreen, 25, have their own children now.

They mourn, not only for their friend, but for the children she might have had.

“You can’t change the history and you’ve got to keep going, but you wonder,” Ms McGreen said.

“Having a child changes the way you see things. We’ve gone through so much. I’m still so sad. You’ve got to stay strong for the babies.” she said.

Jade said the little things still brought big pains.

Kirgir Omaskir has held a commemorative service for the eight children killed by Raina Thaiday at Murray Street, Manoora, 10 years ago. The community offered flowers at the service to the eight young lives lost. Picture: Brendan Radke

“It’s very raw being here today,” said Ms Atkinson.

“I used to steal my sister’s cat and bring it to this park after school for the kids to play with because they just wanted to keep it.

“I have so many great memories of the children in this park.”

Jade said she still felt much sadness, anger and confusion.

“It changes you forever,” she said.

Ms Atkinson now lives in Babinda, and Ms McGreen lives nearby to Murray Street.

Yesterday, they met one another’s daughters, Poppy Atkinson, 1, and Ava McGreen, 5 months, for the first time.

They each visit different parts of the park when they can to pay tribute.

After Jade graduated from year 12 in high school, she took off her necklace and laid it on her friend’s grave.

Kirgir Omaskir has held a commemorative service for the eight children killed in Murray Street, Manoora, 10 years ago. Organiser Sonya Panuel with Kawie Panuel, Angela Panuel, Thelma Epseg and Helen Ghee offered flowers, sang songs and offered prayers to the children at the service in Murray Street Park. Picture: Brendan Radke

The community commemoration was organised by Kirgir Omaskir Cairns – Youth Engagement FNQ for healing, connection and remembrance.

During yesterday’s commemoration, prayers and songs were shared and sung, and eight community members lit a candle – one for each child.

For some who attended the ceremony, it was the first time they had come back to the site since assisting with community recovery; for others it was a chance to sing and pray with friends and neighbours.

Community members and first responders involved in the community recovery spoke about their memories.

Organiser Sonya Panuel said coming together helped to connect the community in the hope that something like this never occur again.

“We know that when the community feels connected and when we come together, we feel like we belong, which can help us to meet challenges and stay strong,” Ms Panuel said.

“We need to bring our children out here, and come together, but there will always be a hole in our hearts.”

Songs and prayers were shared at the 10-year memorial for the eight ‘angels’ of Murray Street.

Manoora Community Alliance secretary Paul Brady said the group was formed after the tragedy, in line with the community’s wishes to better support one another, and continued to work in Manoora 10 years on to support families, run youth groups and programs and bring people together.

He said addressing isolation was an ongoing concern and priority.

“We need to keep having conversations about how isolation contributes to events like these,” Mr Brady said.

“It is a problem when people don’t have neighbours, but they watch it on TV, and when people don’t have friends, but they watch it on TV.

“Ten years ago, the community was unified in the idea that we needed to do something different and since then.

“We’ve introduced programs, beautified the park and talked to the council about the possiblity of building a memorial fountain.

“We need to be one another’s accompaniers and friends. We need to be loving and comforting to one another.

“And we need to remember and stay strong.”

Originally published as Murray St child massacre: Jade Atkinson and Faith McGreen speak on 10th anniversary