The horrific events that occurred at Bondi Junction on April 13 sent a nation into mourning and left the family and friends of the six victims with wounds that may never heal.
But as Australians grappled to come to grips with the senseless stabbing attacks, they found a balm to their fear and anger in the heroic final acts of victim Ashlee Good.
Ashlee’s desperate last moments – when she saved her baby daughter Harriet’s life by throwing her into the arms of two strangers – touched people across Australia.
Bond University and the Bull Sharks AFL club will dedicate this week’s games - the QAFLW Anzac Day clash with Coorparoo and Saturday’s QFA showdown with the Tweed Coast Tigers - to Ashlee Good, and all proceeds from Ash’s Day will go to the family.
Bull Sharks premiership coach and club president Sam Whish-Wilson, a first cousin to Ashlee Good, described her as a lover of life who would bounce out of bed at 5am every day with a smile on her face and a determination to seek improvements in everything she did.
“A friend recently said to me that on that day Ash became a sister, daughter, mother, cousin and friend to all us, as she did whatever she could to keep her beautiful Harriet alive,” he said.
“Ash was always family first, she absolutely adored her parents Denise, Kerry and Dian and our late Nan Bev, and all our family.
“And we all adored her.”
Sport flows through the veins of the family. Ash’s father Kerry played for the North Melbourne Kangaroos and Sam was a talented junior cricketer and NEAFL footballer for Southport before joining the Bull Sharks as a playing coach and steering them to three premierships.
Ashlee was a gun junior netball and basketball player who represented Victoria at both sports and was chosen to carry the Olympic torch on one leg of the relay ahead of the 2000 Sydney Games.
“She was a very talented, competitive sportswomen and a coach’s dream as she would train hard and always prepare well,” Whish-Wilson said.
“And she loved her North Melbourne, a club her father Kerry played for.”
Mr Whish-Wilson said his cousin drew the most joy from spending time with husband Dan and baby daughter Harriet.
“Hanging out with those two meant everything to Ash,” he said.
“Ash really loved being a mum, and she was amazing at it.
“It would be great for Ash’s Day to continue annually, and hopefully one day Harriet can join us to see the impact her mother had on the world and how brave and courageous she was, especially in her last moments.”
A formal remembrance will take place at 2pm on April 27 prior to the first bounce.
All players, coaches, officials and supporters are invited to attend and pay their respects.
Donations can be made to support baby Harriet and her father Dan at GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/Ash-Good