Westfield Bondi Junction: Joyous update for Ash Good’s baby as Australia rallies around massacre victims

To say Australians have rallied around the victims of the Westfield Bondi Junction massacre is an understatement.

In the six weeks since the harrowing attack by knifeman Joel Cauchi which left six people dead and scores more injured, thousands of people have dug deep into their pockets and raised more than $1.2 million to support the victims and their families’ recovery.

Among the five featured GoFundMe campaigns for the Westfield attack is one for the family of osteopath Ashlee Good, who tragically died trying to save her baby girl, Harriet.

Dr Good, 38, and her nine-month-old daughter were the first people attacked by Cauchi on April 13. Her final, desperate act was to thrust Harriet into the arms of fellow shoppers, begging them for help.

As Australia came to terms with the five other deaths in the shocking attack — of four other women and a male security guard — Australia held its breath to see if Harriet, who was in intensive care at the Sydney Children’s Hospital, would survive.

When she was discharged on April 21, the country breathed a sigh of relief.

Now, weeks later, more than $830,000 has been raised on a dedicated GoFundMe page to give baby Harriet and Dr Good’s partner Dan “the freedom to go forward into the future without financial burden or worry”.

“We have been overwhelmed by requests from loved ones and strangers wanting to support Dan and Harriet as they face life without their beloved Ash,” Mr Foxwell wrote on the campaign.

“Being a mother to baby Harriet and partner to Dan was Ash’s whole life. Her love and commitment to them was evident to all who knew her.”

He said although no amount of money would substitute the new mum’s life, they are grateful for the support.

We are united in our devastation that her bright future was cut short in this way. Her beautiful and warm spirit, drive and energy inspired us all.

More than 12,000 people from more than 30 countries have contributed to the fundraiser, many leaving devastated but glowing tributes for the mum and doctor who “died a hero”.

GoFundMe Australia regional director Nicola Britton said the fundraiser was the second-largest in Australia for 2024, trailing behind another fundraiser for humanitarian relief for Gaza.

A GoFundMe was also created to support the family of Pikria Darchia, another woman slain in the “unspeakable” attack, which has raised $9158 for the 55-year-old’s surviving sons and granddaughters.

“Their grief is palpable and unimaginable as they face their future without her. They are broken,” Nicole Mikhailidi, who organised the page, wrote.

“Pikria was an amazing, thoughtful and incredible person and such a talented artist. She had so much to give and a future full to enjoy. She was an inspiration to us all. Tragically in the blink of an eye, Pikria was taken from us.”

A fundraiser in honour of Jade Young, who was also killed by Cauchi, has raised $322,255 to support her husband, Noel, and two daughters in their grief.

Faraz Tahir, the 30-year-old security guard who was killed when he responded to the crisis on his first day of work at the Westfield, was also honoured in a fundraiser that has since been closed. It raised $35,672 for his family.

Organiser and Faraz’s cousin Shakeel Qureshi said he was overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity of the community.

“Faraz came here to live a safer life and was killed working trying to protect others,” he said.

“Your contributions will make a profound difference during this difficult time, providing much-needed assistance to Faraz’s family.

“Your compassion and solidarity have touched our hearts deeply. Thank you for standing with us and honouring Faraz’s memory with dignity and compassion.”

A fifth fundraiser for surviving victim Liya Barko has raised more than $16,000 to support her recovery from the knife wound that “narrowly missed her heart” but left her with a pierced stomach and liver, severed arteries and veins, and three broken ribs.

The fundraisers continue the overwhelming wave of support that flooded Bondi Junction after the attack, which resulted in emotional scenes at memorial sites inside and outside the shopping centre to honour the victims.

Dawn Singleton, 25, and Chinese economics student Yixuan Cheng, 27, were also killed in Cauchi’s murderous rampage.

Twelve more innocent shoppers were injured in the terrifying rampage, a number of whom spent days in hospital afterwards.