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Tuesday, July 1, 2025

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Candlelight vigil for Cassius

HALLOWEEN was a “favourite” celebration of WA schoolboy Cassius Turvey, say organisers of a Mildura candlelight vigil set for Monday night, as they invite the wider Sunraysia community to attend and say, “enough is enough”.

Cassius died after James Steven James Brearley allegedly struck him in the head with a pole as the 15-year-old was walking home from school with some friends.

Friends who were with Cassius at the time reported being racially abused by Mr Brearley and others in the lead up to the attack.

WA Police has charged 21-year-old Jack Steven James Brearley with murder.

Corey Payne, a co-organiser of the vigil which starts at 6pm at Langtree Mall, said it was fitting to come together at Halloween as it was one of Cassius’ “favourite holidays”.

“Families might want to come down, kids might be torn between going trick or treating or coming along to the vigil, but they'll be able to get some lollies,” Mr Payne said.

He said it would also be an occasion to face up to the ongoing problems with racism in the country.

“We're hoping that we’re not just standing there alone as Aboriginal people," he said.

“Aboriginal people, white people, Asian people. Stand in solidarity because enough is enough.”

Mr Payne, who is a father of two, said the death has left him with fear for his own kids.

“I've got boys the same age,” he said. “I’ve got a nine-year-old and a 13-year-old. It’s just fearful.”

He said he could not get away from wondering what Cassius would have thought at the time of the attack.

“Why’s this happening? Why are you doing this? But he never gets a chance to get that answer,” Mr Payne said.

Mr Payne said he sent his condolences to Cassius' family, especially any living in the Sunraysia region.