Pheobe Bishop’s sister makes heartbreaking plea at second vigil

Pheobe Bishop’s sister has made a heartbreaking plea as the Bundaberg community gathered for a second time to honour missing teenager with a candlelight vigil.

On Monday night, hundreds of Bundaberg community members, friends and family gathered at a community park, sharing memories of the teenager.

On Friday, police said they found human remains near the Good Night National Scrub Park outside of Gin Gin, but were yet to confirm if they were Ms Bishop’s.

The teen’s roommates, James Wood, 34, and Tanika Bromley, 33, have been charged with her murder and are alleged by police to have moved her body multiple times.

Attendees at Monday’s ceremony laid flowers, candles and decorations around a large tree – which was adorned photos of Pheobe – many writing messages of love and support as they paid respect to the slain teenager.

Sister Kaylea told the crowd her sister’s name would “always be spoken” among their family and community. “She will never die within us,” she said. “She will always live on.” Kaylea spoke of sibling rivalry, saying “as much as your siblings p*ss you off” and “grind your gears”, she urged the crowd to “cherish it” and not “take it for granted”.“Love every minute of it, because I would pay a million bucks to have that b***h (Pheobe) walk through my door and punch me in the arm,” she laughed through tears.

Mum Kylie Johnson also spoke at the vigil, saying she never expected a situation like that would happen to her. “Now, unfortunately, we know that she is not going to come home to us,” she said. “I have no words that could ever, ever describe what the last three-and-a-half weeks … it’s just weighed us down.” She recalled her daughter always being her “perfectly uniquely” self, saying she was “glorious”. “Phee was more than glorious,” she said. “She was compassionate, she was caring, she was resilient, she was relentless at times.”

In attendance was also the Queensland minister for youth justice and victim support and corrective services Laura Gerber, as well as Bundaberg mayor Helen Blackburn. Online, Ms Gerber said she was “deeply honoured” to attend the vigil. “Our hearts are with Pheobe’s family and friends,” she wrote. “May her light continue to shine through all the lives she’s touched.

It comes after Ms Johnson slammed a fundraiser raising money in her daughter’s name

Amid an outpouring of grief, Ms Bishop’s mother, Kylie Johnson, took to social media on Sunday to condemn a GoFundMe campaign set up in her daughter’s name.

“This hasn’t been approved or supported by the family,” Ms Bishop wrote on Facebook of the campaign, which was titled “In memory of Phoebe Bishop”.

On Monday, the campaign appeared to have been suspended after raising just $24, stating that: “This fundraiser is no longer accepting donations”.

According to the GoFundMe page, the campaign was organised by a Winfield woman and featured images of the teenager.

Riddled with typos, the campaign featured a stated goal of raising “moneys” for “Pheobe’s mother, Kylie, to help the family, to donate to where they choose”.

A separate GoFundMe campaign, which has been endorsed by Ms Bishop’s family, has raised more than $6000 to a goal of $17,000.

Organised by Tracey Berends, the campaign is aimed at raising money for the SES and agencies working to find Ms Bishop, and those that supported her in her life.

“We would also like to be able to donate to the YSchool in Bundaberg on Pheobe’s behalf where Pheobe thrived from their support and guidance,” Ms Berends wrote.

“Pheobe had a gentle soul and a generous spirit — always caring for others and standing up for what was right.

“We want her legacy to live on and by paying it forward to the amazing volunteers and community.

“All funds raised will be donated to these carefully chosen community groups that work to support our Wide Bay community.”

A further GoFundMe campaign purporting to be raising money for “any individual family member or legal representative” was still online on Monday,

The organiser, Melbourne-based Dilraj Dilraj, said “being conducted independently” and was not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the family of Phoebe Bishop.

“Funds raised will be allocated towards facilitating public memorial efforts, awareness activities, community response co-ordination, and covering administrative and professional costs necessary to manage this campaign appropriately,” the campaign stated.

As of Monday afternoon, the campaign had raised only $50 from one donation to a goal of $3m.

It comes after a candlelight vigil at Kolan Community Park in Gin Gin was held on Sunday in honour of the missing teen.

A second candlelight vigil is expected at Buss Park in nearby Bundaberg on Monday from 5pm.