Hundreds attend heart-breaking funeral for Little family
Melissa Little penned three heart-breaking poems for her two little boys and their father in an emotionally-charged funeral in Port Lincoln, just two weeks after the shocking murder-suicide that took her family away from her.
Her boys Koda and Hunter were killed when their father, Damien Little, shot each of them before driving off a wharf in the South Australian town.
More than 600 people attend the service including Mrs Little's parents Dale and Debby Goldsworthy, and Mr Little’s parents Sue and Ken.
The Uniting Church overflowed with friends and family, with mourners seen standing outside the doors of the church when every seat was filled.
Mrs Little was in tears outside the church, as she stood next to the hearse carrying the coffins of her husband and her boys.
Her touching poems to her young sons were printed on the memorial program.
To her husband she wrote:
It broke my heart to lose you, too soon you were gone. You never said goodbye and only god knows why.
Still and quiet here I lay, trying to cope in my own way.
If love alone could have saved you, you never would have died
There's now a hole no-one can fill, within my heart I love you still.
To her oldest son, four-year-old Koda, she wrote:
I see your smiling eyes each morning when I wake.
I talk to you and place a kiss upon your lovely face. You were so thoughtful and caring, way beyond your years.
Each moment spent with you will always be held dear. You should have had so many years to watch your life unfold.
And in the midst of all of this, watch me, your mum, grow old.
And to her youngest, nine-month-old Hunter, she described how little time she had spent with her precious son.
You passed away, so innocent and true.
So brief was your time, I hardly knew,
A baby so sweet with a precious smile.
The time I had with you was so worthwhile.
You showed your love through cuddles in a special way.
An early arrival in heaven that day.
Port Lincoln Mayor Bruce Green described the funeral as another tough day for the community which was still struggling to come to terms with the tragedy.
"There's really deep sorrow and sadness and people are unable to rationalise what happened and find it really difficult to know what to do next apart from getting on with their lives," he said.
The family released a statement reading:
“Today we mourn the loss of three lives taken from this world too soon.
"We will share with sadness we can no longer watch them grow.
"We will also celebrate the special times and joy they brought us while they were in our lives.
"Damien, Koda and Hunter blessed so many with their presence and today is the start of the next journey without them beside us."
Close family members and friends will attend a private burial for Mr Little, Koda and Hunter.
Police divers recover bodies in Port Lincoln
Police divers have recovered the bodies of a man and two small children after a car plunged off a wharf in to Port Lincoln, South Australia this morning.
Port Lincoln murder-suicide: Family reveal father's battle with mental illness
Damien Little's mother said it was "impossible" to save him, as Little did not want to help himself.
Memorial grows for dad, kids at Port Lincoln
The memorial to Damien Little and his children may be temporary but local support is ongoing.
