Tears and unity at Albany candlelight vigil for Cassius Turvey

Hundreds of people filled Albany’s town square on Wednesday night for an emotional candlelight vigil in honour of late Perth teenager Cassius Turvey.

Menang Noongar elders took the lead at the event, speaking from the heart and at times choking back tears as they reflected on the tragedy that has sent shockwaves across the country.

Cassius, 15, was allegedly bashed with a metal pole while walking home from school with friends in Perth on October 13.

Jack Steven James Brearley, 21, has been charged with his murder, with police alleging he chased and attacked Cassius, leaving him with head injuries. He died 10 days later.

Cassius’ devastated friends say they were wrongly accused of damaging Mr Brearley’s car and subjected to verbal abuse moments before the attack.

His friends have remembered him as an “old soul” and the “sharp” one they went to for advice.

At the age of 13, he started a pay-what-you-can lawnmowing business with his friends called Lawnmower Boys, with a Facebook page describing them as “teens wanting to be active in our community in our spare time”.

At the Albany vigil — one of dozens held across Australia on Wednesday — Menang Gnudju elder Carol Pettersen read out a statement written by Cassius’ mother, Mechelle Turvey.

Ms Turvey has been a beacon of strength and unity in the wake of her son’s death.

“I need to call out for calm,” Ms Turvey’s statement said.

“I am angry, Cassius’ friends and family are angry, (but) I don’t want any form of violence, at any of these rallies in the name of my child.

“Violence breeds violence, I want calm and peace.

“I don’t want to fuel prejudice and bias. I don’t want to fuel the stereotype of First Nations people as violent.”

Ms Turvey’s statement also called for more investment in creating safer communities for children, proposing a “Kids Matter” program to start in Perth.

“You can’t just put up a poster about bullying, you need mentors,” the statement said.

“I want a ‘Kids Matter’ program that instils empowerment in my Midland community.

“We want these Kids Matter programs to begin in Midland where a significant proportion of the population are Indigenous, which will hopefully spread across the country at pace for lost and troubled young souls

“They need mentors to do the journey with them.”

After the statement, the crowd was asked to walk along York Street in a show of solidarity.

The march that followed stopped traffic on both sides of the street as the massive crowd snaked around Albany’s main strip.

In the crowd were Indigenous community leaders, dozens of children, the region’s most senior police officers, and politicians past and present.

Some people held signs, others carried the Aboriginal flag or had their faces painted in black, yellow and red.

The sky was dark by the time everyone had returned from the march and a sea of candles soon filled the town square.

After a minute’s silence, people were asked to come forward if they wanted to say something.

Menang elder Averil Dean said she wanted Ms Turvey to know that “our hearts are trembling with you”.

“Listening to the messages that you give and how your heart is so forgiving and so full of love, that gives us all real pleasure to be here to represent you and your family in the loss of your son,” she said.

“I hope we can go together all as one, that we can all love each other’s families and that we can all just let them grow together in harmony.”

Like some of the other elders who took to the stage, Mrs Dean seemed to be moved by the size of the crowd, which was made up of people from all backgrounds.

“I want to thank you all for coming here tonight,” she said.

“Albany is the best place in the world to live and our community is so strong, the love and respect for each other.

“I know that we still have a way to go to have recognition of the pain that our people have gone through, but I want to say thank you for being part of my life and part of Albany life.”

Menang elder Vernice Gillies paid tribute to Ms Turvey for the strength she had shown after the death of both her husband and son in recent months.

She said her statements against violence had shown a path forward without retribution.

“These past few weeks have shattered many lives, the loss of an innocent 15-year-old boy, just at the beginning of his life,” Mrs Gillies said.

“I can’t tell you how much I respect the strength that his mother has.”

The loss of Cassius hit close to home for Menang elder Eliza Woods, who has suffered the loss of a son.

“No parent should be burying their children,” she said.

Mrs Woods asked the crowd to support and encourage youth — “our leaders of tomorrow”.

“We all breathe the same air, we all bleed and we’re all going to die, so we need to really love one another while we can,” she said.

“I’m just so grateful that so many people came tonight and I just pray that everybody will stand united.”