The youngest victim of Australia's deadliest terrorist attack has been laid to rest, as a nation continues to grapple with the shocking violence at Bondi Beach. Ten-year-old Matilda, affectionately known by her middle name 'Bee', was remembered at a poignant funeral service in Sydney's eastern suburbs on Thursday.
A Sea of Bees: A Father's Tribute
In response to her father's heartfelt request, mourners have adopted the bee as a symbol of light and remembrance for the vibrant young girl. Across Sydney's eastern suburbs, the motif has appeared everywhere. The sprawling floral memorial at Bondi Pavilion is now dotted with plush bee toys, illustrated candles, and cartoon stickers. A poignant poster on the pavilion walls reads "Waltzing Matilda", a nod to her Ukrainian parents' choice of a name that embodied their new Australian home.
At her funeral at the Chevra Kadisha funeral home in Woollahra, the symbol was central. Mourners were given stickers bearing her name in her favourite colour, purple, above the image of a small, defiant bee. Inside, tearful friends and family described a friendly, beautiful, and happy child who loved maths and dreamed of becoming a teacher.
Services Held in Sydney and Melbourne
The service for Matilda, killed in the attacks on Sunday 14 December, was so well-attended that mourners overflowed from the building into the surrounding park. Attendees included federal opposition leader Sussan Ley, Coalition frontbencher Julian Leeser, and New South Wales Premier Chris Minns. As her small white coffin was carried out, the profound grief spilled onto the street, with the hearse struggling to move through the crowds.
Rabbi Dovid Slavin, speaking outside, emphasised the unique tragedy of the loss. "Matilda's only crime was trying to come to one of the most iconic places in this country," he said, highlighting the attack on a family gathering. He noted that her parents, Valentyna and Michael, were Ukrainian immigrants who had found freedom and safety in Australia, only to have their joy shattered.
Matilda's funeral was one of several held on Thursday. Earlier the same day, the same funeral home was filled for Alex Kleytman, a Holocaust survivor from Ukraine who also lost his life in the Bondi attack. Many mourners then prepared to attend a third service for 78-year-old great-grandfather Tibor Weitzen at Chabad of Bondi.
In Melbourne, a funeral was held for Reuven Morrison, remembered as a devout man devoted to his family and community. His daughter, Sheina Gutnick, identified him as the man seen in widely circulated footage courageously throwing a brick at the gunman. Rabbi Moshe Gutnick praised this act of bravery in the face of terror.
A Nation Asks: 'Is This the Australia We Want?'
The series of funerals has cast a long shadow, prompting national soul-searching. Rabbi Slavin articulated the question many are asking: "Is this the Australia I want to live in?" He reflected on the spirit of Matilda, stating that while her physical presence is gone, her spirit imposes an obligation on the living to ensure her life continues to have meaning.
The community's mourning continues, with four more victims scheduled to be buried on Friday: Boris and Sofia Gurman, who died trying to stop the attacker, Boris Tetleroyd, and Edith Brutman. As Sydney and the nation mourn the 15 lives lost, the image of a small bee endures as a symbol of a light extinguished far too soon.
