Molly Ticehurst was a loving mum, daughter, sister and a treasured educator to many young children in her small country town.
That is how her family want the 28-year-old to be remembered — for the way she lived and the happy memories she created — ahead of her funeral on Thursday afternoon.
She will be farewelled in a public service at the rugby grounds in Forbes, Central West NSW, 10 days after her former boyfriend allegedly murdered her in her home in the early hours of April 22.
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Read now“On Thursday, let’s not think of him or have vengeance in our hearts,” Ticehurst’s father Tony wrote under the online funeral notice.
“Instead, think of the good memories Molly gave us.”
The town of 9000 people has rallied around the Ticehurst family, with nearly $60,000 raised in a public fundraiser for her funeral.
Locals launched a campaign urging people across Australia to leave their front porch lights on throughout Wednesday night in her honour.
The town will also hold a “Molly Mattered” walk around Lake Forbes on Mother’s Day, with attendees asked to wear bright colours.
The event is described as a way for Forbes “to wrap their arms around each other in a show of support and say no to violence against women”.
Local state MP Philip Donato said Ticehurst’s death had touched everyone in the region.
“Molly was such a well-liked, well-known and highly-regarded young woman,” Donato told AAP.
“Like all these central west communities, when we see there are people really suffering, people go out of their way to support each other.
“That’s the fabric of the country ... and we’ve seen that in Forbes.”
Ticehurst’s alleged murder intensified a national movement against domestic abuse and gendered violence.
She was remembered at a series of rallies across Australia last weekend, along with many other women killed in acts violence this year.
Donato met with members of Ticehurst’s family earlier this week and is lobbying NSW Premier Chris Minns for better protections for domestic violence victims.
“The system is not working,” Donato said.
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