Oakdale Holds Vigil for 18-Year-Old Lily Hooper After 8-Day NSW Hiking Tragedy

3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Aug 22

Willis Park in Oakdale filled with mourners on Friday night, and by Saturday morning its fence was covered with flowers, fairy lights and electric candles for Lily Hooper.
Purple lights illuminated the Wollondilly Performing Arts Centre and shire library, while flags across the region flew at half-mast as local officials and Red Cross volunteers supported grieving residents.
18-year-old Hooper was remembered by her martial arts academy, sports clubs, former school and Sydney BridgeClimb colleagues as an adventurous, talented young woman whose smile and energy touched the community.
Thursday’s discovery came eight days after she vanished on a hike in the NSW southern highlands; police later acknowledged a brief mistaken message that she had been found alive before confirming her death off-trail.