Community Mourns Matilda: Bondi Shooting Victim Remembered with Love

Thu Dec 18 2025 11:52:51 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The family of 10-year-old Matilda, a tragic victim of the Bondi shooting, urges the community to channel anger into love as they bid farewell during her heartfelt funeral.

Matilda, the youngest victim of the recent Bondi shooting, was remembered during an emotional funeral where family and community urged against anger and for love in her honor. Community leaders expressed concern about rising antisemitism in Australia, linking it to the tragic event that left 15 dead. The family hopes Matilda's legacy of joy and love will shine through even after her untimely death.

The family of the Bondi shooting's youngest victim, Matilda, urged the community not to let her death fuel anger, as they said a final goodbye to the 10-year-old on Thursday.

Matilda was among 15 people who were shot dead when two gunmen opened fire on an event marking the start of Hanukkah at Sydney's Bondi Beach on Sunday.

Speaking to the BBC at Matilda's funeral, her aunt Lina Chernykh said the Jewish community is right to want more action to stamp out antisemitism – she does too. But she said Matilda was a joyous child who spread love everywhere she went, and urged the community to do the same in her honour.

Take your anger and… just spread happiness and love and memory for my lovely niece, Ms Chernykh said. I hope maybe she's an angel now. Maybe she [will] send some good vibes to the world.

Jewish community leaders have in recent days suggested the tragedy was an inevitable result of Australia struggling to address rising antisemitism. The attack on Sunday was the country's deadliest incident since 1996, when a gunman killed 35 people during the Port Arthur massacre.

Mourners - including the Governor General Sam Mostyn and New South Wales Premier Chris Minns - packed out the service in Sydney, wearing bee broaches and stickers as a tribute to the girl who adored them. Michael and Valentyna had named their daughter after the song Waltzing Matilda, as a tribute to the country where their Ukrainian family found safety.

Radbi Yehoram Ulman led the service and expressed deep sorrow, referencing Matilda's short life filled with beauty, goodness, and righteousness. He also acknowledged that his own heartbreak was fresh as he had recently lost his son-in-law in the same tragic incident.

During this time of mourning, Ms Chernykh lamented how this loss affected Matilda’s family, especially her younger sister, and expressed concern over how they would find happiness again.

As investigations continue, the attack has been officially labeled as a terrorist incident, with police alleging it was motivated by extremist ideologies.