Raw silence: A shattered community says farewell to Molly Ticehurst
“Dear mum, I love you. I miss our holidays together and our tickle fights. I miss you a lot, and I will love you every day and night. You are the best mum in the world.”
A four-year-old boy’s farewell message to his mother, Molly Ticehurst – a mother who will never witness her son become a man – was read aloud to raw silence.
Mourners at the funeral of Molly Ticehurst on May 2.
Outside, under the late autumn sky, the mourners had come to Forbes Rugby Club to farewell this mother, whose death has assumed a national weight – one that has galvanised a national movement against domestic violence.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese labelled it a “national crisis” and this week announced further funding for women escaping violent relationships. The Minns government is considering a royal commission.
Yet the words of a little boy delved deepest into a well of sadness and, indeed, anger. Some mourners shook, others sobbed, ever so quietly. Premier Chris Minns, whose father had died a day earlier, looked on glassy-eyed and sorrowed.
The nearby gum trees moved, barely.
NSW Premier Chris Minns during the funeral of Molly Ticehurst at Forbes in NSW.
Ticehurst’s family have requested the four-year-old not be named in media coverage of his mother’s death, allegedly at the hand of her former boyfriend, Daniel Billings.
Last month, a court heard that Billings was free on bail for allegedly sexually assaulting and stalking Ticehurst and killing her 12-week-old miniature dachshund when he allegedly broke into her Forbes home and killed her.
More than 1000 people gathered to farewell Ticehurst, a popular childcare worker in the Central West town, which had shut down for the funeral service.
Police Minister Yasmin Catley and NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb joined Minns to honour her.
The mourners at Forbes.
A funeral celebrant read a message from the Ticehurst family.
“When you knew what was happening to you was not acceptable, you found the strength to leave. You found the strength when things didn’t change to seek legal help. You did everything possibly you could to protect your family, yourself and your son,” the celebrant said.
“What happened should never have happened. We are so proud of you for having the strength to leave.”
Through tears, her father, Tony Ticehurst, said: “Every parent would like to see their child change the world, but not at this cost.”
Molly Ticehurst was allegedly killed at her Forbes home by her former boyfriend.
Forbes locals left their front porch lights on overnight on Wednesday night in her honour.
The 28-year-old enjoyed an especially close relationship with her parents, Kate and Tony, settling in Forbes at age 18 with her mum and dad after a childhood living across rural NSW. At home in Forbes, she began working behind the bar at the Forbes Inn, then the town’s bowling club.
She was a naturally gifted childcare educator, her friend and boss Aidan Clarke told mourners, but worried when she took the job at Forbes Learning Ladder. “If I leave the bowlo, who will serve all my oldies?” she asked him.
Molly’s father told the crowd it was a joy to walk down the street with her as children from her workplace spotted their beloved educator.
She hated Holden Commodores, which she disdainfully labelled “souped up Japanese shitboxes”, but loved cob loaves, Married at First Sight and “maineys” – doing laps up and down Lachlan Street, Forbes’ main drag – in her red Kia Rio.
Most of all, the crowd was told, she loved her four-year-old son.
“Always remember, I will be with you forever. There is no one I love more. I wish for you to love your life, believe in your own power and own innate goodness,” read the boy’s grandmother, in words she thought Molly might have left her son with if she’d had the chance.
As children from her extended family released balloons into a cloudy sky, Daryl Braithwaite’s The Horses played.
Ticehurst’s white coffin, covered in pink, yellow and purple flowers, was loaded into a red hearse at the oval. Accompanied by a motorcade of 100 riders, Ticehurst took her final “mainey”.
Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732).