'A child of light': Car rampage victim Thalia Hakin, 10, remembered in touching ceremony
Ten-year-old Thalia Hakin, who was one of five people killed in the Bourke Street mall car rampage, has been remembered as a "child of light" at her funeral today.
The little girl was described as a "little Jewish princess".
"She was a child of light, pure in spirit, truly spontaneous and true," one rabbi who spoke at the service said.
Thalia was one of five people killed when a man allegedly deliberately drove into the lunchtime crowds in the heart of Melbourne last Friday.
Her younger sister Maggie, aged nine, who was also injured in the rampage, was released from hospital to attend her funeral.
The little girl's funeral at Lyndhurst followed a memorial on Monday night held by members of Melbourne’s Jewish community, which went ahead without Thalia’s family.
Maggie, who has been recovering in hospital for the past five days, attended the service in a wheelchair, with her leg in a cast.
Her mother Nathalie, who is also in hospital, was not able to attend.
Thalia's father Tony, who has spent the past days running between hospitals to be beside his wife and Maggie, spoke about who the tragedy has impacted his family.
He shared the disbelief he felt when he received the fateful phone call from his youngest daughter.
Mr Hakin told the friends and family gathered to pay their respects, he will never forget the moment Maggie called him to say "some idiot has just run over my leg and he's broken it".
He recalled asking Maggie where her mother and sister were and she had trouble telling him.
"She's going: 'my mum's on the ground and people are looking after her'," Mr Hakin said.
Thalia's mum upset she could not attend funeral
The grieving father also said his wife Nathalie had woken up this morning with full awareness of what had happened.
"Some maniac went and hurt my family and I don't know how to deal with it," he shared.
Mr Hakin said his wife would have wanted to be at the funeral to remember their little girl.
"I'm really, really sorry Nathalie can't be here. It was very, very hard to do this," he said.
"From the day she was born until the day she died, that girl gave me pride and she gave me joy."
Mr Hakin said he didn't believe his daughter had suffered when the car hit her.
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"Thalia copped the full brunt of it," he said.
"I think she fairly much died instantly, I don't think she would have known much about it."
When he got to Bourke Street he saw a body lying under a blanket, with blood coming out from under it.
It was his daughter.
He said only "pure evil" could have taken Thalia from her family.
"She was something special to everybody who ever met her," Mr Hakin said.
Thalia's teacher from Beth Rivkah College in East St Kilda shared an emotional tribute, remembering Thalia as as a "vibrant and vivacious, delightful little girl."
She choked up while saying "a little piece of my heart is gone".
"I will miss your sparkle Thalia. I will miss you."
One rabbi who remembered Thalia as a younger girl, when the family lived in Adelaide, said: "she displayed maturity well beyond her years".
“She added life and vibrancy to our service but it was music to our ears... May she shine on in eternity,” he said.
Images released on Tuesday of Thalia show a happy little girl, smiling with her sister and dressing up in pink and as former Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
Thalia was one of five people to die in the deadly crime in the heart of Melbourne, while scores more remain in hospital after a maroon Holden Commodore ploughed down the footpath about 1.30pm on Friday.
"We mourn the loss of our dear student and community member Thalia Hakin, as well as the others who lost their lives," Rabbi Daniel Rabin posted on Facebook earlier this week.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the Hakin family."
Monday's vigil honoured Thalia and the other dead, and saw mourners pray for the swift recoveries of the injured.
Three-month old baby Zachary Bryant was the first to be farewelled at a service on Tuesday, with his parents describing him as the most beautiful, loving, happy and perfect little baby.
"He leaves us with the best three months and 14 days of wonderful memories spent in this world," they said.
His sister Zara remains in hospital, in a stable condition.
"He was the most beautiful, loving, happy, and perfect little baby we were so lucky to be gifted with. He was the light of our lives constantly filling our days with smiles and laughs."
Tributes have been flowing for Matthew Si, 33, who was killed after lunch with his wife and Sydney visitor Jess Mudie, 22, along with an as yet unidentified 25-year-old Japanese national.
More than $1 million has so far been raised for victims through various crowdfunding sites, with more than $80,000 raised for the Hakin family.
It's understood Mr Si's family will be holding a private funeral.
A vigil was held at Federation Square on Monday, where thousands came to mourn the victims and a large floral memorial has amassed on Bourke Street.
Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle and Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews are working to have a permanent memorial to victims of the Bourke St tragedy built.
Eighteen people remain in hospital including two listed in a critical condition on Tuesday.
Dimitrious 'Jimmy' Gargasoulas, 26, was charged with five counts of murder on Monday and is likely to face more charges as police continue their investigation.
The accused man was on bail at the time of the offences.
The Victorian government is in the midst of reviewing bail laws, announcing on Monday that bail justices would be scrapped for serious matters and a new night court set up with on-call magistrates to deal with bail applications.
Senator Derryn Hinch on Tuesday called for Dan Andrews to recall parliament immediately to change the law and give senior police the power to remand offenders as they are "familiar with the offenders they are dealing with".
Parliament is due back on February 7.
Victorians have also increased inquiries about learning first aid, with St John Ambulance saying calls about their courses had gone up 20 per cent following the attack.
Gargasoulas' case is due to return to court on August 1 for a special mention.
