The heartbroken aunt of the youngest victim of the Bondi Beach massacre has described her niece as a beacon of happiness and said the gunmen responsible for the rampage "must never have had love".
A Life Cut Short: Remembering Matilda
Ten-year-old Matilda was the picture of joy last Sunday, smiling for the camera with fresh face paint while cuddling a baby goat at a Hanukkah party in Sydney. Inseparable from her younger sister, Summer, she was enjoying the celebrations with her parents. Minutes later, she was fighting for her life.
Matilda, whose funeral is scheduled for Thursday, will be buried as the youngest victim of the attack, marking another day of profound grief for Sydney's Jewish community. Her parents, who emigrated from Ukraine, have visited the makeshift memorial erected just metres from where she was shot.
Through tears, her father, Michael, told journalists: "I named her Matilda because she was our first Australian. We came here from Ukraine and Matilda was the first born in Australia. I thought that 'Matilda' is the most Australian name that can ever exist. So just remember the name, remember her."
An Aunt's Anguish and Unlikely Compassion
In an emotional interview, Matilda's aunt, Lina Chernykh, remembered her niece as "friendly and happy, and with a lot of friends". She revealed that upon first hearing news of the massacre, she prayed Matilda would survive, even if it meant life-changing injuries.
"I broke down in tears telling how I would have pushed Matilda round in a wheelchair if it had meant she survived," Ms Chernykh said.
When asked about the gunmen who carried out the attack, her response blended condemnation with a search for understanding. "I feel sorry for them," she stated. "They must never have had love - how can someone happy in love do this? They are evil."
A Legacy of Love Amidst Global Grief
The family, inundated with messages of support from strangers worldwide, is now focused on ensuring Matilda's love of life is passed on. Only weeks ago, she was practising dance moves at her grandfather's birthday party.
Lina Chernykh expressed a quiet hope for how her niece should be remembered. "Remember her just as a happy child, a happy person… I hope people around the world give love to their kids and not hate."
The attack, which occurred on Sunday, 14 December 2025, has left a community in mourning and a family grappling with an unimaginable loss, clinging to the vibrant memory of a little girl whose name embodied their new Australian life.
