The father of Airlie Montgomery says “it feels like a week ago” that he was told the unimaginable news that his missing daughter’s body had been found at the bottom of a lookout near his North Nowra home.
Lovingly known as “Airlie Fairy”, the six-year-old non-verbal child with autism spectrum disorder had been missing for four hours on March 16, 2025, after wandering off alone.
Six-year-old Airlie Montgomery went missing from her backyard on March 16, 2025. (Supplied: Corey Montgomery)
Hundreds of locals and police formed a search party, but her body was found at the bottom of an 30-metre-high lookout known as The Grotto.Â
Her parents Corey and Katie, and siblings Arya and Lawson, have spent the year persevering in her name.
“Every day we wake up with that battle, that challenge of getting to the end of it,” Mr Montgomery said.
Flowers and tributes left at The Grotto lookout in memory of Airlie Montgomery. (ABC Illawarra: Penny Burfitt)
“On the surface Katie and I are back working. From the outside we’re functioning as normal. But there haven’t been many days I’ve got to the end [of the day] and didn’t get tears.
“It’s still raw, but I use that as a driver to keep going.
“I’ve just found this ability to take everything that’s happened and start asking myself, well, ‘Why? Why has this happened? What am I going to do about it?'”
A cascade of bubbles drifts over The Grotto, marking a year since Airlie Montgomery touched so many hearts. (ABC Illawarra: Penny Burfitt)
Sensory parks for children
The family are in the process of establishing the Airlie Fairy Foundation which aims to fundraise for more accessible, sensory-safe public spaces for children with autism.
“Airlie definitely saw the world different to everybody else. The simplest things had such intricate stories of their own,” Mr Montgomery said.
Volunteers and local residents gather at The Grotto to commemorate Airlie Montgomery. (ABC Illawarra: Penny Burfitt)
“A rock was not just a rock on the ground. It had a journey to get to where it was, and she understood that. That rock was a character in her mind.
“But [autism] was a disability for Airlie, she didn’t understand danger.”
Honouring Airlie “Airlie Fairy” Montgomery, her story worn proudly by those she touched. (ABC Illawarra: Penny Burfitt)
With support from Shoalhaven City Council and funding from the state government the first project will see a small local park behind their home where Airlie used to play upgraded with inclusive, sensory equipment.
Mr Montgomery said he would “start here with this one and move on to plenty of other” public places across the state.
“Refurbishing with a definite nod towards accessibility and inclusiveness, more sensory orientated things within the design, easy access into the area, fencing, security, that kind of stuff,” he said.
Airlie “Airlie Fairy” Montgomery remembered in a simple, heartfelt tribute at The Grotto. (ABC Illawarra: Penny Burfitt)
Shoalhaven Mayor Patricia White said she had been supporting the family on designing the park which would need to be approved by council, and welcomed the foundation’s mission to build more accessible parks.
She said it would add to the sensory park which already existed in Mollymook.
“The more we can develop the better,” the mayor said.
“The location at Drexel Park is close to Havenlee School, which is a special school, and will have benefit for all students at the school.”One year on
The Montgomery family together at The Grotto, holding onto love and memory one year on. (ABC Illawarra: Penny Burfitt)
On Sunday, residents from across the Shoalhaven joined Airlie’s family at The Grotto overlooking the Shoalhaven River to commemorate one year since her passing.
Mr Montgomery said he wanted it to be a celebration of her short but impactful life.
A fairy garden was installed to remember her love for fairies and the colour purple.
A small stone carries a big message of love to Airlie “Airlie Fairy” Montgomery. (ABC Illawarra: Penny Burfitt)
The lookout is not a haunting place for her father.
“It’s where I go for a reset,” Mr Montgomery said.
“I drive in there and have a bit of a walk through and have a chat to her and just check that I’m on track and that I’m doing everything I promised her I’d do.”
Tiny fairies, big love — a playful memorial for Airlie’s joyful heart. (ABC Illawarra: Penny Burfitt)
Mr Montgomery said he wanted to invite the public to the memorial to thank them for their support over the past year.
“There was a thousand people or more that afternoon that came out looking for Airlie, just in that short four-hour window, and I wasn’t going to close the doors off to everybody that has supported us,” he said.