More than a thousand people gathered to farewell Sophie Collombet at Kurilpa Park, but a single-word sign captured the collective emotion of the crowd - “désolé”.
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They were sorry that Brisbane was not the safe city that Sophie Collombet thought it was.
They were sorry that nobody was there to help Sophie in her time of desperate need.
Most of all, they were sorry that nobody would ever again see the infectious smile of the wide-eyed girl from the French town of St-Julien-Mont-Denis.
The crowd gathered in King George Square before three pipers led them across the Kurilpa Bridge to Kurilpa Park, the place where Sophie met her fate two weeks earlier.
Sophie’s friend Roselyne Trott read a tribute from the Collombet family, who said their 21-year-old daughter had achieved all that she had ever wished for.
They recalled how Sophie took her first steps, learned to read and, at age six, stood on the highest mountaintops because she “wanted to walk to the place where you could see the sun set”.
“Oh little one, you feared nothing. And in your enormous wisdom, distress could not touch you,” the tribute read.
“If ever in our beautiful village you lost your way, people would know which family to bring you home to simply by looking at you. You had the Collombet family blue eyes.
‘‘Your life was all kindness, overflowing energy and cheerfulness, and with a simple smile ever present on your face you always managed to bring happiness. You knew how to make the most of each beautiful moment that made up your life.
‘‘But this life has already come to an end.
‘‘In every corner of the sky, in every raindrop, in every lake, ocean, stream and river, we will recall the blue of your eyes. And so, we will always be with you and we will never forget you.’’
Earlier in the night, Griffith University Postgraduate Association president Niels Kraaier told the crowd at King George Square that Ms Collombet embodied the French phrase ‘‘joie de vivre’’.
Mr Kraaier recalled how the pair met at a university movie night in October, where they declared a toast to the French and their joy for life.
“As we reflect on what happened, we ought to ask ourselves the question, is this really the kind of world city we want Brisbane to become?” he said.
“We owe it to Sophie to ensure that Brisbane is a city that is not only safe in the brochures, but safe in reality as well.”
On the evening of March 27, the rain was teeming down and Kurilpa Park was a dark, frightening place. But on Thursday night it was lit up by hundreds of candles from people who wanted to shine a light on Sophie’s life.
The small oil candles shone warmly on hundreds of floral tributes and cards left in the rotunda where her body was found.
The park was filled with children, students, professionals, senior citizens and everyone in between, all united in solidarity for Sophie.
There were French people, Australians and countless others who make up Brisbane’s multicultural community.
Police who investigated Sophie’s death also attended, along with Acting Premier Jeff Seeney, Police Minister Jack Dempsey and Lord Mayor Graham Quirk.
As the crowd slowly dispersed from Kurilpa Park at the end of the vigil, many stayed behind to sign a condolence book for the Collombet family.
The book was placed on top of a French flag, along with two framed photos.
One was of Sophie carrying a koala, living the dream of her Australian adventure.
In the other, she was smiling and looking straight into the lens, showing off those blue Collombet eyes.
