PEOPLE closest to Bacchus Marsh woman Sarah Cafferkey described her yesterday as a bubbly young woman who loved to make people laugh.
So it was no surprise that many of her family and friends did not choose to wear the traditional black to mourn her at St Andrews Uniting Church in Bacchus Marsh.
Ms Cafferkey’s body was found last week at a Point Cook house. Steven James Hunter, 47, has been charged with the 22-year-old’s murder.
A sprinkling of pink, apricot, purple and other bright colours coated the crowd gathered for the funeral of the young woman, who worked in Melton.
A group of four men entered the church wearing pink ties, while another wore a pink peaked cap with a white blazer. Even those who did choose to wear black wore a touch of colour such as bright flowers on their lapels.
It was their way of remembering the young woman who loved anything fluffy and pink.
Hundreds of people gathered for the funeral with some spilling out of the church.
Last week, dozens of people left flowers outside a Bacchus Marsh business in honour of Ms Cafferkey.
On Thursday evening, more than 150 people stifled sobs and stood in silence at a park in Point Cook.
Eleven doves were released during the vigil in Alamanda estate’s Paradise Park. A group of Ms Cafferkey’s friends later launched 22 balloons, one for each year of her life.
Organisers Alice Osborne and Cheree Robinson said the gesture symbolised letting go of Ms Cafferkey’s spirit.
They said the community had been overcome with grief since Ms Cafferkey’s body was found on November 17.
“No community is immune to something like this. Everyone was devastated and shocked about what happened,” Ms Osborne said.
“The reason for the vigil was to show support for Sarah’s family and friends.”
—Nick Toscano with Jared Lynch, The Age
