Remembering Chloe this weekend

The tenth and final Chloe Byron Championship day will be held on Sunday to mark the ten-year anniversary since the Bali Bombings.

The event known as ‘The Chloe,’ will be held at Bondi Beach commemorating Chloe Byron, a 15-year-old victim of the 2002 Bali Bombings. The event will commemorate all the lives lost in the terrorist attack.  Six team members of the Coogee Dolphins football club were also killed in the bombings that claimed the lives of 88 Australians.

“We just try and provide the best community day that we possibly can,” said David Byron, Chloe’s father. “She was the light of my life … She just had a great grip on life was such a fun person to be around,” Mr Byron said.  A minute silence will take place on the day.

Face painting, raffles, surfing contests, and auctions are planned with up to 71 prizes, including a lifeguard experience on the beach with Bondi Rescue lifeguards. The lifeguard experience was organised by Jane Grevis, a close friend of the Byron family.

“It’s basically a celebration of her life, of how many people’s hearts she touched … It’s about the aloha spirit, the aloha spirit for Chloe,” said Jane.

Chloe’s Memorial Mural on the Bondi Beach promenade was restored in time for the event, which will donate all proceeds to the Byron Family’s chosen charity, the Homicide Victims Support Group.

“They looked after all the Bali families. And they looked after us. And so in return we try and look after them,” Mr Byron said.

Fundraising competitions will continue with support of various Bondi surfing clubs to raise money for a bank account called Chloe’s Account For Locals, to support people in the community.

“We may be able to do things like, pay someone’s rent…look after them in some way … Chloe won’t be forgotten,” said Mr Byron.

By Chloe-Lee Longhetti