![\"James](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1792254378_102_43714d672be78d765f2e91a727deee678798a7956c4419dcc51022c16cff0472.png\")
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October 17, 2026 \u2014 9:20pm<\/p>\n
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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n No gift articles left<\/p>\n You’ve used all of your gift articles. 3 more will become available on the 1st of every month.<\/p>\n Close<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n This story contains the name and images of an Indigenous person who has died.<\/p>\n Hundreds of people gathered for a smoking ceremony and marched to Parliament House honouring 21-year-old Jayda Allen Bonner, who was allegedly murdered by her partner.<\/p>\n At least 300 people gathered on Saturday afternoon at Cardigan Street, Carlton, in front of a growing memorial with dozens of bouquets and messages of love, for an emotional smoking ceremony, where family, friends and community members remembered Bonner and called for change.<\/p>\n The 21-year-old, who was born in Melbourne\u2019s inner north, was found dead in an apartment complex on Cardigan Street at about 1.45am on Saturday, October 10<\/a>. A 31-year-old man turned himself into police on Wednesday and was charged with murder.<\/p>\n The young woman with a \u201cheart of gold\u201d \u2013 who dreamed of moving to Queensland to help Indigenous children \u2013 had allegedly been kept isolated in the unit on Cardigan Street for months.<\/p>\n Earlier this week, Bonner\u2019s aunt, Kellie Carter-Bell, said the family was not allowed to see her body to say goodbye<\/a> due to the nature of the injuries. But Bonner\u2019s mother was granted one last embrace.<\/p>\n Related Article \u201cEnough is enough,\u201d yelled Wurundjeri woman Kathleen Terrick, a treaty assembly member for the metro region who was performing the ceremony. After a minute of silence, some in the crowd called \u201cjustice for Jayda\u201d.<\/p>\n As they walked through the smoke and had ash applied to their faces, family and friends sobbed, comforting each other. They invited other mourners to share in their cultural tradition<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s take a stand today against domestic violence, for this young woman who deserved so much better,\u201d Terrick said.<\/p>\n As gatherers marched along Lygon Street, down to the State Library and then back up to parliament they chanted \u201cnot one more\u201d and called for men to \u201cstop killing our women\u201d.<\/p>\n On parliament steps, Carter-Bell said there was something about Bonner that was \u201cdifficult to explain\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cShe had a special aura, a presence, a light that you felt when she was around you, and that light should not be dimming today.<\/p>\n \u201cOur family will spend the rest of our lives carrying the pain of knowing that someone we love so dearly is never coming home.\u201d<\/p>\n Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation Djirra said in a statement, endorsed by Jayda\u2019s family and co-signed by leading Victorian Aboriginal organisations, that it was \u201ca horrifying disgrace\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cJayda\u2019s death was entirely preventable, not inevitable,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile her death is now a criminal investigation, it is also a widespread systems failure, especially of the management of high-risk family violence offenders, the management of offenders leaving prison and how we support Aboriginal women and their families to be heard and believed.\u201d<\/p>\n Related Article There have been 55 women killed as a result of gendered violence in Australia in 2026, of whom Bonner was the seventh Indigenous woman allegedly murdered, according to advocacy body Australian Femicide Watch.<\/p>\n Carter-Bell said that she thought Bonner would have been \u201cvery embarrassed but extremely proud\u201d by the number of people who turned out to remember her.<\/p>\n \u201cI just wish we could have let her know how much we loved her, and [how much] he didn\u2019t love her.<\/p>\n \u201cIf victims just had the chance to realise how many people care, because the perpetrator\u2019s biggest goal is to make us feel like no one cares.\u201d<\/p>\n If you or anyone you know needs support, you can contact the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service on 1800RESPECT<\/a> (1800 737 732), Lifeline<\/a> 131 114, 13YARN<\/a> (13 92 76), Yarning Safe\u2019N\u2019Strong<\/a> (1800 959 563), or Beyond Blue<\/a> 1300 224 636.<\/p>\n Start the day with a summary of the day\u2019s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"Jayda\u2019s](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/17f7a189e5750b7a7586ec93fae2d4aea936185a.jpeg\")
Jayda\u2019s family at the smoking ceremony in memory of Jayda Allen in Carlton.Simon Schulter<\/p>\n![\"Jayda](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1792254379_95_d894cb1f0be00e99a2f658f4d4685015261fb4ba.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Jayda](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/a9355834a174dbd447baa0994c64c534ac061974.jpeg\")
Jayda Allen Bonner\u2019s aunt, Kellie Carter-Bell, at the smoking ceremony.Simon Schluter<\/p>\n![\"<p>\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/d8c1bfc35ca74645aa242727315cd8b7930b528e.jpeg\")
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