Sorrow as community pays tribute to ‘shining light’ Lily Hooper after NSW hiking tragedy

Sorrow as Community Pays Tribute to Lily Hooper

Wanderstayfinder.com – Sorrow as community pays tribute took hold of Oakdale, a small town in New South Wales’ Wollondilly region, when residents filled Willis Park on Friday evening to honour 18-year-old Lily Hooper. Her body was recovered on Thursday afternoon from a hiking trail in the state’s southern highlands, eight days after she disappeared during a solo trek. The discovery ended a search that had mobilised searchers across rugged terrain and consumed the town’s attention for over a week.

A Town Wrapped in Grief

By Saturday morning the fence around Willis Park had become an impromptu memorial studded with fresh flowers, fairy lights, and battery-powered candles whose glow held through the night. The Wollondilly Performing Arts Centre and the local shire library were bathed in purple light, a colour selected to mark Hooper’s memory.

Mayor Matt Gould addressed the gathered crowd on Friday, acknowledging the depth of the town’s anguish and announcing that the park would remain open as a space for remembrance from 5 p.m. through the weekend.

“It’s just an opportunity for everyone to come together and show the level of support there is for the family, and just to look out for each other.”

Red Cross volunteers were stationed at the park throughout the vigil to offer a listening ear to anyone who needed one. Flags across the Wollondilly Shire, including those above the Oakdale Rural Fire Service station, were lowered to half mast for the mourning period. The local fire brigade issued a written statement describing the town’s “deep sorrow … as we all remember the shining light that has touched so many of us.”

Friends, Coaches, and Clubs Remember

Hooper had been a fixture of Wollondilly life for years, dividing her time between martial arts training, competitive sport, and guiding visitors up the Sydney Harbour BridgeClimb. The Toodokan Self Defence Academy suspended its Thursday afternoon sessions once word of the discovery reached the instructors, calling her “a beautiful soul, taken far too soon.”

Her instructor, Mark Szalajko, recalled a student who paired genuine fighting ability with a gentleness that caught people off guard.

“She was a talented and tough martial artist, but despite that toughness, Lily was such a lovely person. She was one of those people who everyone simply liked. I will really miss her smile, her conversations and the moments we shared on the mat.”

The Oaks Netball Club announced that players would wear black armbands in all weekend matches, calling the club “devastated by the loss.” The Burragorang District Soccer Club posted its own condolence online: “Our community has lost a truly beautiful person, and our hearts are heavy with sadness.” In a town of Wollondilly’s size, one young person can thread through dozens of clubs, coaches, and peer groups at once, and Hooper’s absence left a visible gap across several fields simultaneously.

Campbelltown Performing Arts, the high school where Hooper graduated in 2025, posted a tribute describing her as a “kind, humorous and respectful young woman who lit up every room with her infectious smile, positive energy and determination to live life to its fullest.” Former classmates and teachers flooded the comments with personal memories, one writing, “I am so proud of the woman you became … You are so loved my musical angel.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Where did the community vigil take place? Willis Park in Oakdale, Wollondilly, New South Wales. The park remained open as a remembrance space from Friday 5 p.m. through the weekend, with Red Cross volunteers on site.

When was Lily Hooper’s body found? Her remains were located on a Thursday afternoon, eight days after she vanished during a solo hiking trek in the southern highlands.

What local organisations marked the mourning period? The Wollondilly Shire lowered flags to half mast, the Oakdale Rural Fire Service station flew at half mast, the Toodokan Self Defence Academy suspended classes, and local sporting clubs wore black armbands or posted tributes.

What colour was used to honour Hooper’s memory? Purple lighting was applied to the Wollondilly Performing Arts Centre and the shire library during the vigil weekend.