The sister of Sunshine stabbing victim Fiona Warzywoda still “breaks down every day” when she remembers Fiona is gone.
Jolene Warzywoda will honour her sister’s life on the anniversary of her death a year ago by holding a community vigil in Sunshine on Thursday.
“It feels like someone else’s life. I can’t get over the fact my big sister is gone,” the Bendigo woman says.
“I was pregnant at the time and I gave birth to my little girl at seven months from the stress of it all.”
Fiona Warzywoda
Fiona, a Melton West mother of four, was allegedly stabbed by her de facto partner of 18 years, Craig McDermott, on April 16 last year, just hours after the pair left Sunshine Magistrates Court over an intervention order hearing.
The incident happened at a busy Sunshine shopping strip in broad daylight.
Mr McDermott has been ordered to stand trial on October 19 this year, and will appear in court again on April 23 for a further directions hearing.
Last year, Sunshine Magistrates Court received a staggering 3041 applications for family violence intervention orders – more than quadruple the number for matters outside the home.
Figures obtained by Star Weekly reveal that 2671 new family violence intervention orders were sought last year, with 313 heard in October alone.
Jolene says she doesn’t want her sister to be “another victim that just doesn’t matter”.
“I don’t ever want her to be swept under the rug or forgotten. This has rattled so many people, most of all her poor children,” she says.
“I never knew how many women die like this, like my sister did. It’s shocking, disgusting and needs to stop.”
Hampshire Road, where Fiona was killed, will be closed as people gather to light candles and carry posters reading “no more violence” and “no more murder”.
Some of Fiona’s family and friends and a White Ribbon representative will speak at the memorial, at the corner of Hampshire and Devonshire roads, from 6.30pm.
More information is at: jowarzywoda@gmail.com
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