Ramsiah, the brother of Kumanjayi Little Baby, celebrated his 12th birthday on Wednesday, marking his first birthday without his younger sister. The Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SCAICC) shared a photo of Ramsiah standing in front of his birthday cake, surrounded by loved ones.
The large sheet cake featured a photo of Kumanjayi Little Baby being held by her maternal aunt, Karen White, along with the logo of the Collingwood Magpies. SCAICC wrote on Thursday: 'Yesterday Ramsiah turned 12. His first birthday without his sister, Kumanjayi Little Baby. His family and community wanted to make sure he had the chance to have his special day, especially during a time of such grief and sadness. The Town Camp community and family all kicked in for this amazing cake and some presents. Happy birthday Ramsiah.'
Hundreds of Australians rallied in the comments to wish the 12-year-old a happy birthday. Kumanjayi Little Baby, aged five, was last seen alive on Anzac Day, April 25, at Old Timer's town camp in Alice Springs. Her body was found in bushland five days later on April 30, approximately five kilometres from the camp. Kumanjayi is a cultural substitute name used to avoid the taboo of speaking the name of a deceased person, and it was the name requested by the five-year-old's family.
Her alleged killer, Jefferson Lewis, was taken to hospital under police escort on the night of April 30 after being beaten by a vigilante group. A candlelight vigil was held at Alice Springs' Anzac Oval, while other memorials for Kumanjayi Little Baby were held across Australia on Thursday evening. Attendees were asked to wear pink, the little girl's favourite colour.
Alice Springs Mayor Asta Hill said the vigil was held at the request of the girl's family, who asked that their 'sorry time' be respected. 'This vigil will provide a time and space for us to all come together to stand with Kumanjayi Little Baby's family to hold this grief collectively,' she told AAP. Alice Springs had already demonstrated its unity, with many townspeople voluntarily joining the five-day search for the girl in the desert heat.
Well over 1,000 people gathered on the lawns outside Parliament House in Darwin, with territory politicians from all parties joining the sombre crowd to set down candles and sit on the grass. Organiser Shalayne Calma-Reid told AAP that a show of respect was needed with a quiet vigil for the little girl. 'It's really upsetting. I'm a mother myself so I can only imagine what the family is going through.'
A woman in pink, who only wanted her first name used, told AAP it was important for the community to come together to share the sorrow. 'To show we are united in wanting to address the issues and hopefully bring about some change for the positive,' Fiona said. Charles Gauci, the Catholic Bishop of Darwin and the NT, said vigils were about prayer and mutual support, and the Alice gathering was backed by the Ministers Fraternal, made up of several church denominations. 'In the midst of something so horrible and tragic ... it's absolutely vital that people get together,' he told AAP. 'It's about being there for each other, it's about sharing grief together. Sharing your grief is so healthy because you don't just stay caught up in your own little self, you are part of something larger, you are not alone.'
The vigils come as police continue to track down and arrest people who took part in rioting and looting triggered by the arrest of Lewis, with 30 people already charged. The five-year-old's alleged murder has sparked a broader conversation about child protection services in the Northern Territory. It was revealed earlier this week that Kumanjayi Little Baby was the subject of six child protection reports in the week before her death. Those reports cited concerns that the little girl was living in a 'dangerous environment', had been neglected, and was exposed to domestic violence.
Kumanjayi Little Baby's father is currently in custody for alleged aggravated assault against her mother. The five-year-old was never removed from her mother's care. NT Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, who is Kumanjayi Little Baby's aunt, said the girl's family 'knew the dangers she was in'. 'I suppose for me I probably expected that there would have been notifications in place given the circumstances surrounding her death, and no doubt, you know, and some of those came from within family as well,' Price told NT News. 'And I think there were family members that are beside themselves because they knew the dangers she was in already. The worst part is you're not surprised when you see it – that's the worst part. Again, more needs to be done.'
NT Child Protection Minister Robyn Cahill said three staff have been sacked over the handling of the reports, with the incident now subject to an external investigation. 'There are so many children who have had repeated notifications made where zero action is taken for a number of years and those children subsequently have ended up in the criminal justice system,' Ms Cahill said.
