Vyleen White’s family is determined to fight for justice after the tragic fatal stabbing of the Queensland grandmother, which outraged the community. Despite the heartbreak of her passing, daughter Cindy Micallef wishes for her mother to be remembered for the way she lived, not for the tragic way she died. Over 100 mourners gathered at Ms. White’s funeral service in Brisbane on Feb. 29, sharing fond memories of the passionate and loving 70-year-old.
Ms. White was fatally stabbed outside Redbank Plains Shopping Centre earlier in February in a suspected carjacking, leading to widespread outcry over youth crime. A 16-year-old boy has been charged with murder. In an emotional eulogy, Ms. Micallef vowed, “We want to move forward and mum’s legacy will live on, and we’re not going to let that go.” Friends at the service described Ms. White’s death as senseless, saying she was taken too soon, but Ms. Micallef emphasized that her mother’s death will not be in vain.
The Ipswich community has pushed for tougher youth justice reforms following the tragedy, leading to the proposal of new legislation known as “Vyleen’s Law,” which aims to provide harsher sentences and review bail conditions for serious repeat youth offenders. The Queensland government has also expedited laws to ban knife sales in response to Ms. White’s death. Premier Steven Miles sought changes after the 16-year-old charged with murder appeared in a closed court hearing, with a magistrate denying media access.
Ms. White’s life was celebrated during the service, with stories shared about her love for her cat Chloe, her Donald Duck impersonations, and watching funny animal videos. She was known for her unwavering love for friends and strangers alike, but most of all, she cherished her family. Ms. Micallef emphasized the impact of her mother’s unconditional love, acknowledging that there will never be enough words to fully describe her. The service also saw a show of solidarity from community leaders, including opposition leader David Crisafulli and Beny Bol from the African Community Council, as well as a presence of police officers paying their respects.