Wednesday, 27 November 2024

Isla Bell

Tim READ (Brunswick) (10:23): ‘You lived bravely, stood up for what was right and remained the kindest human, the gentlest soul’: Those were the words of Justine Spokes, speaking last week about her daughter Isla Bell, who went missing in early October. Isla’s family worked tirelessly to find her, and her smiling face quickly became familiar to anyone walking the streets of Brunswick past the many windows displaying her ‘Missing’ posters. But last week we learned, according to police allegations, Isla was murdered just before her 20th birthday.

Gender-based violence is a national crisis, and it is our shame to bear. Violence is not inevitable; it is preventable, but prevention requires all of us. Here today, though, let us honour Isla as the bright and beloved person she was. Cassandra Morgan wrote a moving tribute in the Age describing Isla as a kind, generous, lively and multi talented young woman who:

… felt everything deeply. She had an intense awareness and empathy for the world around her; from plants, to music, art, fashion and her family and friends, who she spoke to with a palpable attention and kindness.

She campaigned actively on environmental and social issues and loved to be in nature. The world was better because Isla Bell existed in it, and her senseless loss is felt by all of us.