Tears and laughter at Jill’s Melbourne funeral

On the darkest of days, it was the “vivacious, empathetic, and goofy” Jill Meagher who made her family and friends smile.

Tears, laughs, and tales were shared at the 29-year-old’s funeral in Melbourne yesterday, with mourners hearing how the “creative and generous” Ms Meagher aspired to write novels and comedy shows.

Her husband Tom Meagher, in his final farewell, said: “I couldn’t have asked for more loyalty, happiness, commitment, love, and most importantly, fun from my girl,” he said. “Goodbye my beautiful, funny girl. I’ll love you forever.”

His last words to his wife were “slán abhaile mo cara”.

Her mother, Edith McKeon, drew laughs when she described her daughter as “clumsy as hell”.

Her friend Aoife told how Ms Meagher was the only person she knew who had literally slipped on a banana peel. “And she was proud of it,” she said. “We laughed all the time.”

Ms Meagher, who worked with Australian radio station ABC, vanished while walking the short distance home in the early hours of Sept 22.

Her body was found six days later in a shallow grave about 50km away, and a man has been charged with her rape and murder.

Mourners were given white ribbons along with wristbands promoting the White Ribbon Foundation, formed to stop violence against women.

Homicide squad detectives who investigated her disappearance joined family and friends at the private, invitation-only funeral at the Fawkner Memorial Park.

Twenty-nine doves were released after the service, one to represent each year Ms Meagher lived.

Mrs McKeon said the light Jill had brought to the family almost 30 years ago will shine on them forever. “She was so precious to us.”

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