Birdsall Fa’apepele allegedly stabbed to death at The Parks in Mackay
The Mackay football community will remember Birdsall Fa’apepele as a charismatic personality who was the ‘everyone’s best mate’ after alleged stabbing murder.
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Known as a dominant force on the rugby league field, Birdsall Fa’apepele will be remembered for his contribution to his community off the ground.
The Magpies rugby league team was in shock after the rising star was allegedly stabbed several times and found dead in a vacant lot beside The Park caravan park in Paget in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
His teammates and family will celebrate his life and remember him as the personality he was.
Jerome Iakimo, Mr Fa’apepele’s former teammate and housemate, said the club was devastated to learn of his death.
“I was at a gym, running a session for the football club, and we had pretty much the whole team there,” he said.
“Half of them left because there was a conversation going around about Birdy’s death, we were all confused about what had happened, and it was just a massive shock.
“He was such a big personality off the footy field, but he’d always have your back and be ready to go to war with you on it, and that’s why his teammates all loved him.
“Everyone is shattered about it, but we’re lucky we’re a part of the football team and we’ve got each other if we’re not coping.”
Mr Iakimo said he would remember Fa’apepele’s impact on the rugby league community.
“I haven’t been around the club for the past couple of seasons, but everyone loved Birdy around Mackay,” he said.
“It doesn’t matter what club you played for, or if you didn’t play, he was always that person to come up and say hello, no judgment or anything.
“He was always happy to see and chat with anyone, he was like everyone’s best mate.”
The former University of the Sunshine Coast student was a key component of the Magpies’ finals’ run, starting every match he was available for in the A-Grade side.
Isaiah Cooper-Tetevano, a member of the Magpies finals team, paid tribute to his fallen teammate.
“We should always end a call or a goodbye with ‘I love you Uso, I’m glad I did,” he said.
“Tomorrow is never promised, a lesson I learned today.
“If you’re reading this still ‘I love you’.”
“I’m glad I got to spend it with you and everyone else … moments like that is the moments I’ll forever cherish and love,” Martin Tafa wrote on Facebook.
“I will forever love and miss you Birdy, rest in love.”
Mr Fa’apepele’s cousin Ivy Lee-Lo Pilling said her heart was aching.
“It’s so hard to comprehend the loss of a close family member, especially the pain that is felt and left behind for loved ones to bear,” she said.
“My heart aches for both Aunty and Uncle and my cousins, we will miss you my dear cousin.”
Ooralea resident Francis Watson, who lives near the field where the body was found, said petty violence and crime had been escalating in the area.
“I’m usually up every morning for a walk at 5am or thereabouts, so I caught a part of the morning show,” he said.
“It’s been a while since we had anything like this, we used to only have kids being nuisances but now cars get stolen and people are getting stabbed.
“It’s pretty scary to think what we’re all turning into.”
Mr Fa’apepele was a strong centre in the 2021 RLMD semi-finals clash between the Magpies and Wests, recording two tries in the tense clash.
Known on the field for his quick footwork and brute force, Mr Fa’apepele was a dominant figure in the semi-final and his season-long team spirit earned him the Coaches award.
A 33-year-old Mackay man has been charged with his alleged murder and appeared in Mackay Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
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Originally published as Birdsall Fa’apepele allegedly stabbed to death at The Parks in Mackay
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