Kelly Wilkinson killed: Gold Coast mother of three lost her mother Karen eight weeks before her own death

The Gold Coast mother of three killed in horrific circumstances was “actively seeking to increase the safety of her children and herself”.

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KELLY Wilkinson was “very strongly and actively seeking to increase the safety of her children and herself” and should not be remembered for the way she died, says Rosemary O’Malley.

Ms O’Malley, chief executive of the Domestic Violence Prevention Centre on the Gold Coast, said the 27-year-old alleged murder victim must be remembered as a strong and courageous woman.

“I suspect that Kelly’s life had been very different for a very long time before she was allegedly killed in such a brutal and horrible way,” she said.

“As a city we need to look at how we can support the courageous women who make that decision to leave a relationship because the risk of staying becomes greater than the risk of leaving.

Kelly Wilkinson should be remember for being a courageous woman says Rosie O’Malley.

“Women in domestic violence situations think about leaving all the time, but they know that it’s very rare they will be able to leave without being punished, or their children being published or weaponised.

“People often don’t realise how strong women experience domestic violence are, and commonly say ‘why don’t they just leave?’

“But these women are some of the strongest and most courageous women you’ll ever meet.

“They are raising children, holding jobs and living with horrific sexual and emotional violence on a daily basis.

“Kelly was very strongly seeking support and was trying to improve the safety of her and her children and it’s wrong for her to be remembered for the way she died.”

Ms O’Malley said it was crucial for all Gold Coasters to take note of the signs that somebody was experiencing abuse, whether it was a little sign that something felt off or something more overt that couldn’t be seen.

Kelly Wilkinson

“Whether it’s our friends, or in our organisation or at work, it’s also really important that we believe women when they tell us they are being harmed or threatened or living in fear. We must all ask what we can do to make things better, not worse, for her,” she said.

Generally speaking, Ms O’Malley said acts of violence in the home can be the result of long term behaviour.

“After 16 years of working with perpetrators and responding to incidents, it’s rarely the case that they just snapped, and there are very few actual psychopaths living in our community,” she said.

“It’s very likely that men who are perpetrators of domestic violence are considered top blokes by those who work with them or are around them.

“But their partners and kids will have a very different experience with him behind closed doors. Men who are perpetrators are really good at keeping these two worlds separate.”

COAST CRIPPLED BY SADNESS: ‘KELLY ALWAYS LIT UP ROOM WITH HER SMILE’

April 21, 2021

THE horrific death of mother-of-three Kelly Wilkinson has devastated and shocked the Gold Coast community, with locals overwhelmed by a sense of sadness that “this has happened again”.

Leaving behind three children aged nine and under, the 27-year-old tragically lost her own mother 55, just eight weeks ago. Karen “Kaz” Wilkinson died suddenly on February 28 aged just 55 years. She was the “much loved soulmate of Reg. Loving mother of Danielle, Emma, Kelly and Natalie. Adored nanny to her 8 beautiful Grandchildren”.

Kelly Wilkinson was allegedly murdered on Tuesday.

Kelly was allegedly killed in eerily similar circumstances to Brisbane woman Hannah Clarke and her three children, who died one year ago in an act of domestic violence. Hannah’s father Lloyd told 4BC’s Neil Breen that his “thoughts and prayers go out to Kelly Wilkinson’s family and close friends” saying the young mother’s death had “brought back some demons” for the family.

Across the Gold Coast there’s been an outpouring of emotion, with hundreds of locals paying tribute to the young mother, often seen in Arundel walking her young children to school.

Rachel Walshe said she was “absolutely heartbroken by the news. Kelly always lit up the room with her smile and always had us laughing”

“Every memory with Kelly brings a smile to my face. Kelly, you will be missed so dearly, we will never forget you.”

On a GoFundMe page set up by Kelly’s sister Natalie, Roz Chia said she was a mum who “had fought and survived”.

“My children are fortunate to still have their mother. I have very little to share but sharing what I have, because Kelly’s children need us to care today and every day,” she said.

A school friend of Kelly’s, Ruby Lorenz, said she was “heartbroken and disgusted and angry this has happened. I am lost for words”.

Jill Ellis said she was “absolutely horrified that this has happened again,” and Hannah Krueger saying “kids should never be without their mum”.

Nearly $110,000 has been donated to the family as of Thursday morning, with Natalie saying she was “lost for words with the generosity found within the community”.

RizeUp Australia’s Gold Coast founder Nicolle Edwards said there was an overwhelming sense of helplessness in the community, with feelings of “oh not again, why does this keep happening”.

The death of Kelly, a mother of three, a daughter, a sister and a friend, is having a ripple effect in the local community,” she said.

“We’ve been inundated with calls and messages from people in the community, particularly families from Arundel State School, asking what they can do to help.”

Since the start of the year RizeUp has helped nearly 80 Queensland 100 families leave domestic violence, and Ms Edwards said it was really important that the community looked at how they could individually act to help prevent incidents of domestic violence.

“From checking in with friends and family, to being good roles models for our children and teaching respect at home. We must not lose sight of the individual and collective role we can play in helping to avoid such tragedies.

“The accountability should match the rage that is felt by the community.”

Gold Coast Centre Against Sexual Violence director Di McLeod said like the rest of the community she was:” shocked and very, very sad”.

She said “my heart goes out” to the children.

A Facebook post from Kelly Wilkinson.

“It was only seven weeks ago that we had a rally for Robyn Beaver at Norm Rix Park, and we’ll be observing Kelly Wilkinson’s death at a Red Rose Rally on Friday 30th of April to remember her life.

“Homicide is the most extreme form of domestic violence.”

Bonney MP Sam O’Conner, who lives not far from the site of the crime, said many families in the area would “feel this profoundly, especially everyone at Arundel State School”, where at least one of Ms Wilkinson’s children is enrolled.

“They’ll know what this tragedy means for those three young kids who will carry this loss and trauma with them for the rest of their lives,” he said.

Queensland Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman said: “Every death from domestic and family violence is unacceptable and a tragedy. My deepest sympathies go out to the family of Kelly Wilkinson and in particular her three young children. Enough is enough.”

Meanwhile, 26 Domino pizza franchisees, from Ormeau to Tweed Heads, is hosting a fundraiser for the Wilkinson family on April 28, with $1 from every pizza sold on the day being donated to the family.

Follow @emilytoxward

Originally published as Kelly Wilkinson killed: Gold Coast mother of three lost her mother Karen eight weeks before her own death