A child, no different to the eight that perished in Manoora, swung on the turtle-themed spring rocker in the playground next to number 34 Murray Street.

Just metres away, a floral tribute to the young children, four girls and four boys aged between two and 14, stood as a reminder of the horror that went on next door.

As did the police tape, and the sight of two forensic police officers photographing, removing and bagging an item that may prove pivotal in the police case against accused murderer Raina Mersane Ina Thaiday.

The item, which appeared to be a metal bar, was recovered from the park over the fence from number 34 and just a couple of metres from Murray Street's sea of flowers.

Just how important that piece of evidence will prove to be will not be known until the case against Ms Thaiday is played out in court.

In the meantime, a community must continue to face what has happened, and a large, extended family must learn to go on without its eight "little darlings".

In a scene reminiscent to Martin Place in Sydney, albeit at a smaller scale commensurate with a smaller community, the flowers, cards and teddy bears had grown in the four days since the tragedy.

Still, a steady stream of people come to lay their own flowers and reflect on an incident that would surely remain etched in the psyche of Cairns for many years to come.

Ms Thaiday, 37, has been charged with eight counts of murder.

Seven of those charges related to the deaths of her own children, the eighth — the 14-year-old girl — was her niece.

Fairfax Media is not naming the children, nor showing their images, out of respect for traditional cultural protocols concerning the recently deceased.

The case has been so confronting that even hardened police officers have been shaken to the bone.

They have been offered counselling.

Deputy Police Commissioner Brett Pointing on Monday described the alleged Manoora massacre as "up there with some of the worst events that our people have been subject to".

Ms Thaiday, who was also known as Mersane Warria, remained under guard at the Cairns Base Hospital.

She has been charged with murdering three of her daughters, aged two, 11 and 12, four of her sons, aged five, six, and and nine, and her 14-year-old niece.

Her case was adjourned in Cairns Magistrates Court on Monday until January 30.

Before then, Ms Thaiday will undergo mental health checks to determine whether the case will be heard in the Mental Health Court.

The government-owned house in which last week's terrible events unfolded will be demolished to make way for a permanent memorial to the children.

Still, in the midst of the holiday season and just two days from Christmas, people went about their business in the suburban shopping centres of Cairns.

Along the famous Esplanade, backpackers enjoyed their beers in the sun. Families took in the sights of the experience of far north Queensland.

The beaches and pools were put to good use.

And that's the reality of it.

Even in the wake of unimaginable tragedy, life goes on.