Jill Meagher’s Memorial service in Drogheda Ireland 

The traumatic and untimely death of 29 year old Irish born Jill Meagher is a sad story of a young woman’s life tragically cut short in her prime.

The extraordinary outpouring of grief by Melbournian’s and Irish people alike, represents a community who is no longer willing to accept heinous crimes being committed against anyone, yet alone women.

The fact that so many people mobilized support via social media including through the utilization of Facebook is testament to the fact that through goodwill and positively focused action, through the collective energies of a community can come together during a time of a crisis and work together to achieve an outcome.

Unfortunately for Jill, such community action came too late to save her.  Like Jill, many woman and men too are victims of both; violence, rape, torture and murder.  There has been a disconcerting rise in serious crime against innocent citizens in Victoria in recent years.

In fact some of Australia’s worst rapists, pedophiles and murderers live and work around the Brunswick, Preston, Carlton and Coburg regions.  The community they operate within oblivious to the danger that lurks among them.

It is becoming increasingly common in Melbourne and Sydney to know of a family, friend or work colleague that has either been a victim of rape, physical assault and or know someone close to them who has been murdered.

Street Art “Rest in Peace” A memorial to Irish woman Jill Meagher        Source: http://www.artshub.com.au

The “Dark days of Terror” that began in Melbourne in 2003 is believed to be a major contributing factor to the criminal activity that has pervaded Melbourne over the past decade.  This dark period has seen Victorian citizens witness and experience escalating events of crime and corruption, specifically drug trafficking, rapes, assaults, theft, fraud and murder. Why is this so? And most importantly how did things become so bad in Melbourne, a place that only a decade ago was a relatively safe and peaceful city to live within?

It is hoped that through the tragic and short lived life of a wonderful young woman, who by accounts from her friends, family and work mates celebrated her life with joy, passion and humour, will act as a catalyst for change within Melbourne.  It has already been noted in the past week that the winds of change have been sweeping through Victoria and Australia, with a collective resolve that the people are no longer willing to live in fear.

A 30,000 strong crowd of Melbournian’s silently engaged in a Peace Rally marching along Sydney Road, Brunswick showing their solidarity of support for Jill’s family and their collective reluctance to let the forces of darkness win.  This fear appears to be transmuting into a higher force resembling hope.

Hope for a positive change. Hope for peace. Hope for humanity to collectively wake up and realize just how much pain and suffering some individuals ill-considered and drug and alcohol affected actions can adversely affect other people and the community around them.

For all the other families that also have experienced great sadness at the loss of their loved ones, please know that many people in the community also too pray that they find the forgiveness in their hearts for wrongs committed against them and that they may too find the solace and peace that they are seeking.

Finally for Jill Meagher’s husband, family and friends let’s hope that they also find peace in their hearts and know that Jill’s passing, although sad may serve a greater purpose, perhaps more than they can ever imagine.

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Photo of Jill Meagher at her  memorial service. 

Source: Getty images

Perhaps a fitting tribute song for the Victorian and Irish communities in wake of recent events;

Ben Lee – “We are all in this together”

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