The family of Sydney siege victim Katrina Dawson says a new charity will honour her memory by supporting education opportunities for women.
Ms Dawson, 38, was regarded as one of the “best and brightest barristers” at the NSW Bar before she was killed in the Martin Place siege on Tuesday.
Katrina Dawson.
Former Governor-General Dame Quentin Bryce was named as the founding member of the Katrina Dawson Foundation.
Its launch followed the establishment of a memorial fund for Lindt cafe manager Tori Johnson, which has so far raised more than $65,000 for mental health organisation Beyondblue, including a $51,000 donation from Lindt Australia.
In a statement, Ms Dawson’s family said the mother-of-three had “inspired so many people to ask us what can be done to preserve and honour her memory”.
“Katrina was a light in so many lives,” the statement said.
“She shone in so many ways. And she made the most of every opportunity she had.
“It is our hope that out of her senseless death we will, through the opportunities the foundation will provide, bring meaning to the lives of other amazing young women.”
A memorial service is planned for next Tuesday at Sydney University, where Ms Dawson studied law and Dame Quentin was principal and chief executive officer.
Quentin Bryce.
Ms Dawson’s family has requested those attending wear “a splash of aqua”, which was Ms Dawson’s favourite colour, and donate to the foundation instead of bringing flowers.
The university’s Women’s College said in a statement that members of its community were “keen to honour Katrina’s memory in a purposeful and special way”.
“We know our college community will wish to support the foundation given the many emails and calls we have received from alumnae and friends,” the college said.
This article originally appeared on ABC News and is republished here with permission.
Top Comments
I think it's great they are trying to make something positive out of it but what about the other victim, could they not have included his name too? they died together and it would have been beautiful to have a charity in both their names.
Perhaps the family of Tori Johnson has their own plans for a charitable foundation in his name. This may have been a cause dear to Katrina's heart, while there is something else Tori was passionate about (not that this is not a worthwhile cause, but hopefully you understand what I mean) that his family will choose to honour in his memory.
The article says there is already a memorial fun set up for him which is going to beyond blue.
I don't agree, it makes sense to me that they would do something that Katrina was passionate about. What is the point in making a personal charity if it isn't personal?
In any case Tori's family has asked for donations to Beyond Blue, and perhaps that was something he felt passionate about, or maybe his family don't know what to do and figure that's a good charity to put his name to and to help.
I also feel that you are being a bit critical, it has been less than a week since they died, their families must be devastated and with so many people wanting to donate money their families in the midst of their grief have had to come up with ideas as what to do with all the offers of donations. They also want a way of honouring their loved one'a memory and putting the money towards something the person would have been passionate about. Also in years to come they can get some small comfort out of knowing that their loved one'a death was not entirely in vain, that their death helped to raise funds for something that the person was passionate about in life. And what if Tori and Katrina had nothing in common other than this tragic circumstance, what if one of them loved cats and their family decides all the money should be given to cat shelters, yet the other person had been allergic to cats!
Lastly the families are probably in a complete haze of grief right now, their foremost concern is probably not, "what will strangers on social media think about our plans to honour our loved one in a way that our loved one will have approved of and a way that will give us some comfort also."