An estimated 10,000 people gathered in Melbourne’s Princes Park over night to honour the memory of 22-year-old Eurydice Dixon who was brutally raped and murdered there less than one week ago.
Despite a crowd of thousands, barely a word was spoken as people huddled in the dark, many shedding tears as they lit candles and paid tribute to a life taken far too soon.
“What happened to Eurydice has resonated with so many in Melbourne and around Australia,” one of the vigil’s organisers, Pia Cerveri, told the crowd. “Let’s stand together.”
Following a 20-minute silence a choir broke into song, singing Hallelujah.
As well as honouring Eurydice, the virgil was also marked with political undertones, with a message that more must be done to stop the cycle of violence against women and the message that women are solely responsible for their safety.
“I have a 22-year-old daughter. I’m here just to support people, females, that can walk the streets without being attacked,” attendee Dorothy Filipovic told the ABC.
“Nothing’s changed, from Jill Meagher to this day,” Ms Filipovic said.
Similar vigils were held across the country, in Sydney, Ballarat, Bendigo, Warrnambool, Albury/Wodonga and Geelong.
“We have a right to be safe, we have a right to walk to and from work, we have a right to walk to and from home with a reasonable expectation we’re safe doing so,” Tarryn Bennett told ABC who joined a crowd which walked down the main street of Ballarat.
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