By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
PURPLE balloons were tied to posts throughout Casey Fields on Sunday.
Purple was Maddy’s favourite colour.
Family, friends and well-wishers gathered on the weekend at the Cranbourne grounds to remember Maddison Murphy-West, the 20-year-old who was found dead in her Pakenham home in 2013.
The sun was shining on Casey Fields for the second annual Rally for Maddy where all funds raised will go towards the future and education of her three-year-old son, Noah.
Maddy was found dead at her Ahern Road home in Pakenham on 23 October 2013 and homicide squad detectives continue to investigate her death.
Last year’s anti-violence rally, which raised roughly $10,000, was organised after media reports emerged last year that Maddy was allegedly physically assaulted in the year before her mystery death.
So far $5000 had been raised from Sunday’s event.
Maddy’s mum, Paula, now has custody of Noah while also raising her own two-year-old son, Brydon.
“It’s so important and getting the word out there about domestic violence,” Paula said at the rally.
“She’d (Maddy) be in the middle of this all right, she would’ve helped with this if it was someone else.
“This is something that she would actually put together. She loved doing that sort of thing and organising things.”
Paula said the boys kept her busy and gave her a reason to keep going.
“I think you just find an inner strength, it just comes out when something like this happens,” she said.
Kelly Murphy, Maddy’s aunt, said the family had been overwhelmed by everyone’s support.
“When Noah’s old enough to understand this horrible tragedy, at least he will know of all the loving and supportive friends we have made from their generous donations, time and love,” she said.
“As hard as every day is without Maddy, we know with all your help Noah will be OK.
“Even though a little boy should never stand beside his loving mother’s grave.”
Victims of crime campaigners Noel and Beverley McNamara, also husband and wife, were at the rally to lend their support having been a guiding light for Maddison’s family since tragedy struck a year and a half ago.
The McNamaras’ daughter Tracey was murdered in 1992.
“That’s the thing that victims have to get back, you’ve got to learn to live again,” Noel said.
“You’re never going to get over it, forget that, but you’ve got to learn… it’ll always come back and haunt you but you learn to get on.”
For more information, visit the Justice for Maddy Facebook page.
Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
