MORE than 150 people stifled sobs and stood in silence at a park in Point Cook last Thursday in memory of Sarah Cafferkey.
At the stroke of 7.30pm, friends of the murdered Bacchus Marsh woman released doves and 22 balloons, one for every year of her life.
The organisers of the twilight vigil at Paradise Park, Point Cook residents Alice Osborne and Cheree Robinson (pictured), said the gesture symbolised the releasing of the 22-year-old’s spirit. They said Point Cook had been overcome with grief since Ms Cafferkey’s body was found in a house in the suburb on November 17.
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“No community is immune to something like this, everyone was devastated and shocked about what happened. The reason behind the vigil was to show support for Sarah’s family and friends,” Ms Osborne said.
Pastors led a prayer, former Wyndham councillor Marcel Mahfoud spoke on behalf of the White Ribbon Foundation, and former footballer and politician Phil Cleary told of how his sister, Vicki, had been killed in 1987.
Mr Cleary urged parents to raise their sons as men who respected women.
Steven James Hunter, 47, has been charged with Ms Cafferkey’s murder.
Two Wyndham men who were questioned over the death have been released from police custody.
Homicide squad police arrested the men at a property in Tarneit in Melbourne’s west about noon on Thursday.
After interviews all afternoon, a police statement said a Tarneit man, 32, and a Point Cook man, 34, had been released pending further inquiries.
Police said the investigation into Ms Cafferkey’s disappearance and murder was continuing.
