IT WAS a grey day to match the even greyer atmosphere.
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Hundreds of Stephanie Scott’s friends and family gathered on Wednesday at the venue where she was meant to walk down the aisle less than two weeks earlier.
Instead, Ms Scott’s loved ones converged on Eat Your Greens in Eugowra to say their final farewells to the popular Leeton High School teacher, originally from Canowindra.
As the hundreds of cars rolled into Eugowra for the funeral they were greeted by yellow balloons and streamers hanging from every tree lining the road to the function centre.
The mood was sombre as one by one, car-loads of mourners arrived at the venue wearing touches of yellow to pay tribute to Ms Scott, who was allegedly murdered on Easter Sunday, just days before she was due to wed her high school sweetheart, Aaron Leeson-Woolley.
Ms Scott’s sister Kim was a pillar of strength as she delivered the heart-warming eulogy, sharing stories of their childhood and telling of the wonderful, lovable and happy woman Ms Scott grew up to be.
One of Ms Scott’s students from Leeton High School also spoke about the teacher everyone loved.
“Ms Scott always knew how to brighten a day,” she said.
Ms Scott’s parents even got up to say a few words about their daughter, and then, the sun came out just as the yellow balloons were handed out to the crowd.
The balloons were released into the grey sky as the hearse drove off, and the Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros’ 2009 hit, Home, played in the background.
Schools between Leeton, Cowra and Canowindra flew flags at half mast on Wednesday and businesses in Leeton closed from 1pm to 2pm as a sign of respect.
Students, colleagues and Leeton community members held a public memorial to coincide with the private celebration at Eugowra.
STEPHANIE Scott loved music, dancing and the colour yellow.
“She was just beautiful, everyone loved her,” according to Ruby Scanlon.
Miss Scanlon, who lived in the same on-campus accommodation block as Miss Scott at Charles Sturt University in Wagga, said she was one-of-a-kind.
“If you met her once you would remember her, even if it was a long time ago,” Miss Scanlon said.
“She was very special.”
Miss Scanlon said Miss Scott loved sport.
“She loved her sport, she would give any kind of sport a shot.”
Miss Scanlon said Miss Scott always had a smile on her face.
“She was really goofy and fun, we all loved her.”
Miss Scanlon and a number of other students from CSU who were friends with Miss Scott are organising an art auction to raise funds for her family.
“I emailed a bunch of people who went to uni with Steph,” Miss Scanlon said.
“We wanted to do something to help.”
Miss Scanlon said those involved in organising the auction had been overwhelmed by the offers of artwork, vouchers and other pieces to auction.
Prue Officer also attended CSU and is helping organise the auction.
“I personally didn’t know Steph but I went to CSU and I know a lot of people who did know her,” she said.
“It was one of those things that touched us all and broke our hearts. We wanted to do something to pay our respects,” Miss Officer said.
Miss Officer said more than 60 people had offered to donate items to auction.
“We’ve had an amazing response, with so many people wanting to contribute,” she said.
Miss Officer said organisers of the auction hoped to host it in the coming weeks.
Visit www.facebook.com/artforsteph to donate an item.
Meanwhile, Father Robert Murphy from St Peter’s Anglican Church has urged the community to “draw together and support each other” following Miss Scott’s alleged murder.
“This is a very supportive community and that was shown on Saturday,” Fr Robert said. “We need to look towards the future and hold her memory in our hearts.”
Fr Robert said while faith didn’t remove the reality of dealing with difficult things in life, it gave people the strength to move on and concentrate on the positives. Asked about the presence of evil the world, Fr Robert said everyone had their own free will.
“I think people feel angry and saddened as well as shocked. In this community you always think ‘these things don’t happen here’,” he said.
- Reporting with Sophie Harris, Forbes Advocate