Family members could be heard sobbing loudly as the youngest victim of the Bondi Beach massacre was laid to rest.
Matilda, 10, was celebrating the first day of Hanukkah at the iconic Sydney beach with her family on Sunday evening when she was allegedly gunned down by two gunmen, who were father and son.
Fifteen innocent people were killed in the bloodbath and a further 42 were injured, including the eight-week-old son of a rabbi.
Matilda was farewelled at the Chevra Kadisha Memorial Hall in Woollahra on Thursday, with hundreds of friends, family and political leaders including Opposition Leader Sussan Ley and Governor-General Sam Mostyn in attendance.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese did not attend because he was not invited, with her parents Valentyna and Michael slamming him on Wednesday for ‘failing’ to protect Jewish Australians.
There were too many mourners to fit inside the memorial hall ahead of the service, with crowds spilling out on the street to watch proceedings on a screen set up for the occasion.
Family members were audibly crying during the service, as Matilda was described by the rabbi delivering her eulogy as a ‘beautiful, sweet girl’ who ‘grew up in a beautiful home with a beautiful family’.
‘The tragic, totally cruel unfathomable murder of young Matilda is something that is so painful to us like our own daughter was taken from us,’ he said.
Matilda was shot in the stomach and died in hospital after doctors tried to save her life. This photo was taken on the day she died
Matilda’s mother Valentyna (centre) at her daughter’s funeral
Matilda’s parents, Valentyna and Michael (pictured) leave their daughter’s funeral
Mourners carry the coffin of 10-year-old Matilda out of the memorial hall
‘Losing a child is the greatest pain a parent can go through.
‘The external question is “Why?” but there is none because we can’t answer in life in the present – she must remain alive in our deeds.’
He said Matilda would continue to inspire others, and that her Hebrew name meant ‘righteous woman’, which was reflected in the ‘sweet, kind girl’.
‘We have to make sure that she doesn’t just remain in our hearts and minds and memories but she needs to remain alive in our deeds, in how we live our lives,’ he continued.
NSW Premier Chris Minns then delivered a heartfelt poem to mourners which referenced Matilda’s ‘beacon of love’ and ‘earthly light’.
‘From darkness they struck to where candles glowed bright,’ Minns said.
‘She’s waltzing with the angels, her love will always stay.
‘Her sorrow fills the campfire and tears a night are found. Matilda’s name.. will be safe.’
Matilda’s mother is supported by other mourners
Emotional scenes at Matilda’s funeral
One woman could be seen crying on the shoulder of another mourner
As the service came to a tearful conclusion, Matilda mum’s Valentyna could be seen clutching teddy bears.
A crowd formed around Matildan’s coffin as mourners paid their respects.
There were tearful scenes as the funeral car prepared to make its way to the cemetery, with Ms Mostyn invited to walk behind the car.
Mourners embraced each other sharing their thoughts on the service and how it had honoured Matilda.
Some took part in a Jewish tradition called netilat yadayim – a ritual for those who have attended a funeral or a cemetery to wash their hands immediately upon leaving the area or before entering a home.
It’s a symbolic act of purification and transition.
Matilda’s mother made her way out of the hall and into a black van decorated with bumble bees and made her way to the cemetery.
There were pops of colour among the sea of dark clothes, with organisers handing out little bee stickers to attendees as a tribute to Matilda, whose middle name starts with B.
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley arrives for the funeral
Sam Mostyn, the Governor-General of Australia, embraces a mourner
Some mourners carried large bunches of flowers to the funeral service on Thursday (pictured)
Friends and family could be seen hugging ahead of Matilda’s funeral
Matilda’s casket was placed inside Chevra Kadisha Memorial Hall (pictured)
A white taxi van also parked outside the hall before the service began with a large bumble bee emblazoned on the side window, while mourners carried bee balloons and flowers.
A heavy police and private security presence remained in Woollahra until after the service finished.
As mourners dispersed and news crews packed their equipment, Vanessa – the mother of three-year-old Gigi who was shielded from gunfire under the body of a stranger – was the last one left, sitting on the steps of the memorial hall.
A number of mourners said the crowd seemed larger than the other victims’ funerals held a day earlier, including Reuven Morrison and Rabbi Eli Schlanger.
On Wednesday, Valentyna and Michael took aim at Albanese for what they described as failing their daughter.
‘[Albanese] has failed my daughter and failed every victim of the tragedy, and had they done more, this would not have happened,’ she said.
Michael said Albanese had not done enough to ‘protect Jewish people in this country’.
‘He has betrayed the Jewish people of Australia, and of the whole world,’ he said.
‘Like, what the hell is he thinking? And it showed what happened.’
Mourners gathered to farewell Matilda
A mourner carries balloons while arriving for the funeral
Matilda’s parents attend a Bondi memorial on Tuesday
Matilda will be buried at Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park.
A second memorial will be held at her school in La Perouse on Friday.
Moments before the mass shooting unfolded, photos showed Matilda wearing face paint and smiling with her little sister, Summer.
At a memorial service on Tuesday, Michael held up a framed photograph of Matilda as he addressed mourners.
‘Her name was Matilda because she was our first Australian. We came here from Ukraine, and I thought Matilda was the most Australian name that can ever exist. So just remember the name, remember her,’ he told the crowd.
Her mother spoke through tears: ‘It wasn’t just a bullet from a spray. It wasn’t an accident. It was a bullet fired on her.’
Her brother found comfort in knowing Matilda was surrounded by family in her final moments, saying: ‘She knew she was loved, that she wasn’t alone.’
Relatives shared that her middle initial was ‘B’ and encouraged well-wishers to post a bee emoji in her honour on social media.
Following the attack on Sunday, the alleged gunmen were quickly identified as father Sajid Akram, 50, and his son, Naveed Akram, 24.
Sajid was shot dead by police, while Naveed is recovering from bullet wounds in hospital.
He has been charged with 59 offences.
