Margie Maccoll
At 6am Sunday morning, a week after 87-year-old Noosa man John Kerr was brutally attacked and died on Hastings Street boardwalk, 400-500 residents came together to remember John and instil courage in the community.
Also a regular morning walker, David Knechtli initiated the walk by posted a social media message after he heard the attack had left some people fearful of walking.
“This is our home and we take charge of our place,“ he told attendees on Sunday.
“I just thought we could turn the negative into a positive by reclaiming our streets by saying, ’Let’s all walk, we’re not going to be afraid. We are not going to be intimidated’.
“We are not going to let crime take control but we are going to own our streets.“
“I’m not going to be afraid in my own community.“
David acknowledged family members of John Kerr who joined in the walk but did not want to speak publicly.
With tears in his eyes he read a statement from the family before a minute’s silence was observed and flowers were laid along the boardwalk.
“We are broken-hearted to lose our beloved John,“ he said.
“This was a walk John took many times over many years. He was an integral part of this community for more than 30 years.
“The family acknowledge the grief and shock the community is suffering and greatly appreciate the outpouring of support.“
The family urged members of the community to come forward with any information about the attack.
Plain-clothed and uniformed police officers were present at the event, in the hope of speaking to anyone who witnessed the incident or were in the vicinity between 5-7am last Sunday 18 June.
A 27-year-old man was taken into custody after the attack and has been helping police with the investigation.
No charges have been laid.
Police also released CCTV footage of the area this week of a man walking on a path in the vicinity of the area at 6am of three vehicles driving along Hastings Street between 5-6am. They are keen to speak to the man and people in the cars who may have witnessed something that could help the investigation.
David was overwhelmed by the response from the community.
“I am oh, so proud of our community,“ David said.
“I think our community is excellent, but when you have something like that happen, that shakes us at our core, and rightly so,“ he said.
“We have to be using our senses when we’re walking early in the morning.
“But let’s not stop doing things that you would normally do every day.“
