{"id":779443,"date":"2026-05-07T10:41:51","date_gmt":"2026-05-07T10:41:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/779443\/"},"modified":"2026-05-07T10:41:51","modified_gmt":"2026-05-07T10:41:51","slug":"kumanjayi-little-baby-remembered-at-vigils-across-the-country","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/779443\/","title":{"rendered":"Kumanjayi Little Baby remembered at vigils across the country"},"content":{"rendered":"

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article contains the image of an Indigenous person who has died, used with the permission of her family.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Vigils have been held across the country in memory of five-year-old Kumanjayi Little Baby, who was allegedly murdered in Alice Springs.<\/p>\n

Kumanjayi Little Baby went missing from the Old Timers \/ Ilyperenye town camp in Central Australia on April 25.<\/p>\n

It triggered a large-scale search of the area involving hundreds of volunteers.<\/p>\n

Her body was found about 5 kilometres south of the camp on April 30, sparking an outpouring of grief across the nation.<\/p>\n

Jefferson Lewis, 47, has been charged with one count of murder and two other charges that cannot be disclosed for legal reasons.<\/p>\n

Hundreds gathered at a vigil in Melbourne, with pink T-shirts and ribbons everywhere.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

The tone was sombre in Melbourne. (ABC News: Jesse Thompson)<\/p>\n

Mourners were urged to wear the colour as they took part in a smoking ceremony and moment of silence, followed by speeches from Indigenous leaders.<\/p>\n

Organiser Natasha Ellis-Corrigan said that although the event was a long way from Alice Springs, it provided an important opportunity for people to grieve.<\/p>\n

\"Pink<\/p>\n

Pink was Kumanjayi Little Baby’s favourite colour. (ABC News: Jesse Thompson)<\/p>\n

“It’s important for people to come here so they know that we are in this together,” she said.<\/p>\n

“We come together in unity, to grieve together, but also to comfort each other in times of need.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Kumanjayi Little Baby was five years old. (Supplied: NT Police)<\/p>\n

‘A lot of pain’ felt across the country<\/p>\n

The National Carillon in Canberra was lit up in pink, the favourite colour of Kumanjayi Little Baby.<\/p>\n

\"Crowd<\/p>\n

It was a sea of pink in Canberra as well. (ABC News: Monte Bovill)<\/p>\n

Ngunnawal Elder Aunty Violet Sheridan said the girl’s death had caused “a lot of pain”.<\/p>\n

“I send my love and prayers to her family,” she said.<\/p>\n

“They’ve lost someone some dearly loved and so young.<\/p>\n

“We need to stand with them and will get through this together as a nation.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Ngunnawal<\/p>\n

Aunty Violet Sheridan spoke at one of the multiple vigils held across Australia. (ABC News: Monte Bovill)<\/p>\n

Another vigil was held at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy, where dozens of attendees lit candles.<\/p>\n

NT community comes together<\/p>\n

In Alice Springs, a crowd gathered in front of the stage area at ANZAC Oval, with children running around wearing pink clothing and laughing while singers performed.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Young and old were in attendance at the Alice Springs event. (ABC News: Xavier Martin\u00a0)<\/p>\n

Vigil organiser Chay Brown acknowledged the deep hurt and grief felt by the whole community.<\/p>\n

“We have seen the very best of our community, we have seen a strength that we all know has always resided here,” she said.<\/p>\n

“So we are here this evening to reinvigorate that strength.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Big<\/p>\n

The community came together to mourn. (ABC News: Xavier Martin\u00a0)<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Residents gathered at ANZAC Oval for a vigil for Kumanjayi Little Baby. Picture by Xavier Martin for ABC News on 07\/05\/2026. (ABC News: Xavier Martin)<\/p>\n

Arrernte traditional owner Sabella Turner began speaking in her language as the sun set behind her. English words, like community, family, healing and strong, could be heard between the Arrernte.<\/p>\n

Central Land Council chair and relative of Kumanjayi Little Baby, Warren Williams, said the five-year-old was full of light.<\/p>\n

“As we watch the sun go down, we mourn the light that she brought; we can still feel the warmth of her light,” he said.<\/p>\n

\"Police<\/p>\n

The vigil included a smoking ceremony. (ABC News: Xavier Martin)<\/p>\n

Northern Territory Police executive director of cultural reform, Leanne Liddle, read out a letter from Kumanjayi’s mother.<\/p>\n

“I want you all to know that my heart is broken into a million pieces, and I want you to know that I am having trouble knowing how I can repair it and how I can live without my little baby,” it read.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

The five-year-old’s mother’s words were read out to the crowd. (ABC News: Xavier Martin)<\/p>\n

In her letter, the little girl’s mother reiterated that she did not want her death to be politicised.<\/p>\n

“I ask that her short life not be used by politicians for reasons that do not honour and respect her,” she wrote.<\/p>\n

“I ask that everyone let me, Ramsiah [Kumanjayi Little Baby’s brother], our family and the nation grieve without any judgement.”<\/p>\n

\"Indigenous<\/p>\n

In the Top End, Darwin’s vigil was poignant as well. (ABC News: Marcus Kennedy)<\/p>\n

Kumanjayi Little Baby’s kinship grandfather and Gurindji leader Rob Roy read a moving statement to the crowd, sharing the family’s profound grief.<\/p>\n

“So full of innocence, gone far too soon, we felt hopeless, holding on to hope, that someone somewhere would bring, bring news and update, a sign, anything,” he said.<\/p>\n

“We knew she was gone, the pain of that reality will stay with us.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In Darwin, at the front of Parliament House, people sat quietly on the grass, before observing a minute silence and then taking turns to light a candle.<\/p>\n

Balloons, candles and a sea of pink\"A<\/p>\n

Flowers, candles, a photograph and an Aboriginal flag made up a memorial for the five-year-old at Sydney’s vigil.\u00a0 (ABC News: David Hirst, Timothy Ailwood)<\/p>\n

There were sombre scenes at Sydney’s Town Hall as well during Thursday night’s vigil, with attendees writing messages of grief and support for the girl’s family on a large canvas.<\/p>\n

Flowers, candles, a photograph and an Aboriginal flag were draped on nearby steps.<\/p>\n

After a moment of silence was held, the Buuja Buuja Butterly Dancers performed and a small number of speakers addressed the crowd.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

The vigil’s crowd was large in Sydney. (ABC News: David Hirst, Timothy Ailwood)<\/p>\n

Dozens of people came together at Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, mourners sitting together on the banks of the Maroochy River, where a smoking ceremony was held.<\/p>\n

\"An<\/p>\n

A smoking ceremony was held on the Sunshine Coast. (ABC News: Tessa Mapstone)<\/p>\n

As the sun set in Perth, crowds gathered for a vigil that was full of pink balloons.<\/p>\n

About 150 people gathered, and organiser Megan Krakouer said it was important to stand in solidarity with the rest of Australia.<\/p>\n

“The death of this young girl has broken many hearts,”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

she said.<\/p>\n

“This is about humanity, kindness … and to show when something affects one of us, it affects\u00a0all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Two<\/p>\n

The sun set as crowds gathered in Perth. (ABC News: Keana Naughton)<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A beautiful shirt was worn at the Perth vigil. (ABC News: Pip Waller)<\/p>\n

Noongar poet Tony Walley shared a poem at the Perth vigil entitled Only Five.<\/p>\n

\n

“You’ve gone to the dreaming<\/p>\n

And many a vigil has started<\/p>\n

Your spirit and legacy is forever<\/p>\n

Even though you have parted.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\"Kumanjayi<\/p>\n

Geraldton held a vigil to remember Kumanjayi Little Baby. (ABC News: Brianna Melville)<\/p>\n

Adelaide’s vigil started with a minute’s silence and organisers reading a statement from Kumanjayi Little Baby’s mother.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The song Amazing Grace played as people stood or sat quietly.<\/p>\n

\"Adelaide<\/p>\n

Amazing Grace rang out at Adelaide’s vigil. (ABC News: Che Chorley)<\/p>\n

\"Lots<\/p>\n

A fire pit was lit at the Adelaide vigil. (ABC News: Sarah Maunder)<\/p>\n

Around 200 people gathered at Port Lincoln’s event.<\/p>\n

Eucalyptus leaves from trees in Mparntwe\/Alice Springs were placed by children and their families, along with floating tea lights in the ocean.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Port Lincoln’s event used eucalyptus leaves from trees in Alice Springs. (ABC News: Emma Lee Pedler)<\/p>\n

In Hobart, dozens of people gathered at a sunset vigil, many holding candles.<\/p>\n

Multiple ceremonies were held across Tasmania, with vigils also in Launceston and Burnie.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

The Hobart crowd gathered in solidarity. (ABC News: Monty Jacka)<\/p>\n

Nala Mansell, from the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre, said it marked an opportunity for the community to come together peacefully.<\/p>\n

“We’re here to say enough is enough,” Ms Mansell said.<\/p>\n

“And mainly just to \u2026 give strength to our brothers and sisters up in the Northern Territory during such horrible times.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Nala<\/p>\n

Nala Mansell says the vigil’s aim was to send love to the wider Northern Territory community. (ABC News: Monty Jacka)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article contains the image of an Indigenous person…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":779444,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[2],"tags":[109433,13269,10787,4740,319138,19291,319139,319135,312980,319133,319134,18929,10501,50,319140,13048,313312,319137,37263,319136],"class_list":["post-779443","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-news","tag-5-year-old","tag-alice-springs","tag-alleged-murder","tag-australia","tag-death-of-five-year-old-kumanjayi-little-baby","tag-found-dead","tag-how-is-kumanjayi-little-baby-being-memorialised","tag-indigenous-girl","tag-jefferson-lewis","tag-kumanjayi","tag-little-baby","tag-melbourne","tag-memorial","tag-news","tag-paying-tribute-to-little-baby","tag-sydney","tag-town-camp","tag-tribute-to-girl-killed-in-alice-springs","tag-vigil","tag-vigil-for-aboriginal-girl"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/116532882108935218","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/779443","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=779443"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/779443\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/779444"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=779443"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=779443"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=779443"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}