Tributes to a
dear friend
THE lake at Cecil
Hills shone by candlelight on Sunday night as more than 800
people gathered to remember Doujon Zammit, the Australian
tourist who died after being bashed
while
holidaying on a Greek island.
His devastated
father, Oliver Zammit, made the hard decision to turn off his
eldest son's life support last Friday in an Athens hospital.
The 20-year-old
Cecil Hills resident was on holiday in Mykonos when he was
bashed with a baton by a bouncer outside a nightclub. The
bouncer has been charged over the death and remains in custody
while three other bouncers were released on bail, all charged
with complicity and bodily harm.
Daniel Chamoun, a
friend of Doujon, helped organise the vigil through the social
network website Facebook, with almost 12,000 members joining the
group, Doujon Zammit Only the Good Die Young.
A phone call from
Mr Zammit was transmitted from Athens through a loud speaker. He
expressed his gratitude for the gathering's support and sent his
apologies for not being able to attend.
One Greek
newspaper called him ``the smiling boy''. His family and friends
spoke of Doujon's warm and inspirational nature and their fond
memories.
His mother Rose
said she was touched by the support shown by so many of her
son's family and friends. She said she was proud that his life
had affected so many people.
Candles were
floated on the lake by his family and friends as a tribute to
Doujon.
White balloons
were also released by Doujon's two younger brothers, Zeake and
Laurent.
A fireworks
display completed the tribute to Doujon, who was school captain
of Cecil Hill's High School in 2005.
He had high
aspirations and studied graphic design after graduating. There
were quite a few students and staff at the memorial, and
assemblies were held at the school all day on Monday for each
year group.
The student
representative council is organising a memorial garden with
ceramic plaques that will be inscribed with personal messages
from school members.
The principal,
Sean Bowen, said the students and staff had been shocked by the
tragedy. It felt as if a cloud loomed over the school.
``His personality
endeared him to everyone,'' he said.
Doujon's family
decided to donate his organs, with his heart going to an
Australian in a Greek hospital.
