Lily Hooper’s loved ones want her death to leave a meaningful legacy, with the family urging better education around bush safety and wider use of personal locator and tracking devices for young hikers.
At the same time, they are continuing their call for an official tribute to commemorate the 18-year-old.
The teenager headed into Nattai National Park on August 12 on a solo walk and did not return.
Her body was located on Thursday in remote bushland in the park’s southwest Sydney region, bringing a major search operation involving police, army personnel, SES crews and other rescuers to a heartbreaking end.
Her parents, Jim and Kirrily Hooper, hope “Lily’s Law” can become a lasting campaign centred on helping others better prepare before going into the bush.
“We think it’d be good if there was a legacy that was left like a Skye’s Law, Jack’s Law … Lily’s Law,” Mr Hooper told 7News.
“And that’s about the awareness of going out in the bush with EPIRBs, tracker devices, Garmin, Navman type devices.”
After retracing the route Ms Hooper took, Mr Hooper believes she may have become lost after conditions changed late in the day.
“It’s a hectic track, I was surprised she took it on. I think it was on dark and she got disorientated and she headed in a direction that she didn’t walk in on,” he said.
“Like I said the bush can swallow you up.”
He said he had previously tried to discuss bush safety with his daughter, but like many teenagers, she was confident in her abilities.
“I locked horns with her about this sort of stuff which saddens me in a lot of ways because there was a lot of you know ‘what do you know dad’ stuff and you know kids think they know better,” Mr Hooper said.
Although they are grieving an unbearable loss, the family has taken some comfort from having Ms Hooper back.
“Out of the three scenarios of getting her back alive, getting her back (deceased) and then not getting her back we got the middle one,” Mr Hooper said.
“Not ideal but at least we got her back.”
The family is also pleading with Premier Chris Minns to honour Ms Hooper, who worked as a tour guide at BridgeClimb, by flying the flag at half-mast.
“If Chris Minns could organise probably to get the flag put at half-mast for her,” Mr Hooper told 7News.
“Oh, just as a tribute to Lily. You know, like I say, she’s an advocate for young women.”
The family now says other young people can learn from Lily.
“She will leave a legacy, I hope, for girls, young girls, you know, to get out and about and enjoy life like she did.”.
Lily’s family is planning a big farewell off for the girl who threw everything at life.
“She wanted to be famous as a movie star. She became famous, not for the right reason, but yeah, so she got that wish,” Me Hooper said.
He said the family was not angry over the heartbreaking communication breakdown following the discovery of her body.
Coded messages between emergency agencies led to Ms Hooper’s family believing for eight minutes that she had been found alive.
The miscommunication widely spread, even reaching NSW Premier Chris Minns, who announced it to parliament.
But elation soon turned to deflation after the code was relayed and it was made clear Ms Hooper had died.
“No, not at all. I’m not in any way angry at the police or the police commissioner or the Premier,” he told 7News.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon and Mr Minns have since apologised for the miscommunication.
Mr Hooper said he was grateful for the lengths that rescue parties, including NSW Police and volunteers from the SES, went to try and recover his daughter.
The tragedy has sparked an outpouring of grief across the nation and shattered the young woman’s local community.
“Beautiful Lily, may your soul rest peacefully … May your family find solace and comfort in knowing that you passed from this world doing what you loved to do and being with nature – you certainly touched the hearts of our Camden & Wollondilly communities,” one resident wrote on social media.
“Lily, you will always be remembered for the love and joy you brought to our community, your memory will live on in our hearts and minds,” another said.
Members of her community turned out to a candlelight vigil in Willis Park on Friday evening, barely 24 hours after learning of the devastating loss.
“A community coming together to support the Hooper family through this devastating time. Rest easy, fly high and shine bright Lily,” one commenter wrote on social media following the event.
Ms Hooper’s alma mater Campbelltown Performing Arts High School shared a message to their community remembering the 18-year-old, who graduated less than 12 months ago.
“Lily will be remembered by our school as a kind, humorous and respectful young woman who lit up every room with her infectious smile, positive energy and determination to live life to its fullest,” the school’s statement read.
“She was, and will always remain, a deeply valued member of our school community.
“May Lily’s light continue to live on in all of us who were fortunate enough to know her.”