Hot air balloonists in the small town of Canowindra, where Stephanie Scott grew up, have dedicated a flight to the murdered teacher.
In darkness, residents from the town in central western New South Wales began to gather on a local sports oval as 20 balloonists prepared to lift off.
At first light, the community released yellow helium balloons, while the hot air balloons took to the skies over the town.
“The balloonists from here and across the globe, here for an upcoming festival, wanted to dedicate a special flight to Stephanie Scott,” organiser Jan Kerr said.
Ms Scott was supposed to be married yesterday but was murdered last week.
For more: Australian women share their dresses in memory of Stephanie Scott. #putyourdressout
A burned body found in bushland yesterday is believed to be hers.
Balloonist Ruth Wilson said she hoped the event would bring the town some joy.
“I think it’s a wonderful opportunity to show that we care — [that] there can become something positive,” Ms Wilson said.
Yesterday, hundreds of people had gathered in Leeton to celebrate Ms Scott’s life on what would have been her wedding day, releasing bunches of yellow balloons into the sky.
Ms Scott’s family, including fiancé Aaron Leeson-Woolley, were joined by friends and hundreds of people from the community.
Vincent Stanford, a 24-year-old cleaner at the school where Ms Scott taught, has been charged with her murder and remains in custody to face court again in June.
See images from yesterday’s moving community gathering organised by Stephanie Scott’s family here:
Click through this gallery to see the beautiful tribute made by Australian women yesterday when they put out their special dresses in memory of Stephanie and all the women who have been murdered this year.
#putyourdressout
This article was originally published by ABC online.
Top Comments
Such a moving story.
But does that justify illegally releasing helium filled balloons in breach of the
Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997 (NSW)?? I am gobsmacked that those people chose to commemorate this lady's life by committing a senseless and illegal act of environmental vandalism. I think she deserved better than that.
Section 146E - Restrictions on release of balloons
(1) Offence of releasing balloons
A person who releases 20 or more balloons at or about the same time is guilty of an offence if the balloons are inflated with a gas that causes them to rise in the air.
(2) Offence of causing or permitting release of balloons
A person who causes or permits the release (whether by one or more than one person) of 20 or more balloons at or about the same time is guilty of an offence if the balloons are inflated with a gas that causes them to rise in the air.
(3) Aggravated offence
A person is guilty of an aggravated offence under this subsection if the person commits an offence under subsection (1) or (2) and the number of balloons released is more than 100.
Seriously? Its a beautiful gesture to remember somebody who was taken too soon. You don't need to become the fun police. Just let these people grieve.
Let Trolls be Brolls.
Let troll be brolls what the heck does that mean?
Go away. I'm sure that none of those lovely people were thinking of that during the most devastating thing that has ever happened to them.
Let them remember their beautiful partner/daughter/sister/friend and get through this the way they need to.
I don't like littering, either, but in this case I make an exception.
The whole purpose of this law was to stop 100 balloons being released every time someone dies or has a baby or gets married or wins the grand final. Those events are not the exception. They are the very reason we made laws to stamp out this practice.