Community mourns the death of North Hobart matriach Voula Delios

THE family of murder victim Voula Delios has made an emotional appearance at court as they confronted her alleged killer for the first time.

A woman and child place flowers near the scene of a fatal stabbing in North Hobart. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

THE family of murder victim Voula Delios has made an emotional appearance at court as they confronted her alleged killer for the first time.

The North Hobart “institution” was stabbed to death on Saturday afternoon in her Elizabeth St grocery store which she had operated for the past three decades.

Hours after alleged murderer Daryl Royston Wayne Cook appeared in court, the North Hobart community was still trying to comprehend the death of Mrs Delios.

Mr Cook’s appearance in the Hobart Magistrates Court yesterday morning was brief but highly charged.

Members of Mrs Delios’ family exchanged words with the alleged culprit who did not enter a plea.

Outside court, the distressed family said she didn’t deserve to die that way.

“She works all her life, it’s unbelievable, she works all her life for her kids and grandkids,” her nephew said.

Mr Cook is due back in court on August 22.

For many traders along the Elizabeth St strip, the 68-year-old Greek Australian matriarch was part of neighbourhood’s fabric. The fact her death was violent and occurred in broad daylight on a bustling Saturday afternoon has rocked them.

Michael Delios with his mother Voula Delios in the family’s grocery store in North Hobart in 2003. Pictgure: TONY PALMER

“I can’t believe I have to walk past that store today and she won’t be in that window,” Kelly Holmes, who works at a nearby business, said.

Ms Holmes choked back tears as she talked of the meals Mrs Delios would freshly cook her and the regular conversations she had with her son Michael.

“The North Hobart strip will never be the same again — she was definitely a woman of strength — a hard worker,” she said.

“It’s affected a lot ofpeople, all the regulars coming in, it’s all they are talking about.”

Dianne Newman, from Status Dry Cleaners, has been in the area for 40 years and knew Mrs Delios for most of them.

She said a greater police presence was needed in the area.

“It should never have happened in the middle of the day in North Hobart,” she said.

“She was good to people, she let people take things and let them pay later ... we’re all so devastated.”

Next door at Vinnies, Doris Williams was still recovering from the shock.

“Nobody deserves that sort of thing, I get quite upset about it,” she said.

“It’s awful what’s happened. Things like this shouldn’t happen.

“Everyone who has come in said how tragic and shocking it is.”

Flowers near the scene of the fatal stabbing in Elizabeth St, North Hobart. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

The shock and trauma reverberating around the strip has prompted the North Hobart Uniting Church to offer a “space for reflection for those who wish to remember Voula Delios”.

Minister Jeff Savage said anybody was welcome to come in and light a candle for Mrs Delios or talk about how it had affected them.

Theo Sevastopoulos, from the Hellenic Club, remembered a mother and grandmother who had worked hard for her family after migrating to Australia from Greece more than 50 years ago.

Mr Sevastopoulos first met Mrs Delios and her husband, who died several years ago, in 1967.

“They were working hard for the family always … they never bothered anyone, they were always good in the community,” he said.

North Hobart resident George Innes bought meals from Mrs Delios, who used to run The Parthenon takeaway shop attached to the grocery store for nearly 40 years.

“When I’d walk past, she’d bang on the window to tell me my food was ready,” Mr Innes said yesterday as he digested the sad news over a beer at the Queens Head Hotel.

“She was a bloody nice person. It was a terrible shock,” he said.

Capital Restaurant owner Aaron Brazendale described Mrs Delios as an institution.

“It’s affected everyone around here, the community. It makes you think about how precious life is,” he said.

The Rain Check Lounge, which is next door to the North Hobart Grocer, was closed yesterday as a mark of respect. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN