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Supporters rally to honour ‘one-punch’ victim

ABC

ABC

Family and friends of Cole Miller have paid an emotional tribute to the teen at a Brisbane rally held in his memory.

Mr Miller was the victim of an alleged one-punch assault during a night out in Fortitude Valley a week ago.

More than 1000 people have attended a rally in King George Square to show support for the Miller family and to call for an end to violent behaviour.

• #CozziesOutForCole pays tribute to one-punch victim
• Tributes flow for ‘beautiful, talented’ Cole

Many wore the colour green to reference the talented water-polo player’s local team, the Brisbane Barracudas.

Both friends and members of Mr Miller’s family addressed the crowd, including his older brother Billy.

“We should not and never have to worry about a loved one going out and having a good time with friends,” he said.

“It was about to be Cole’s time to shine.”

ABC

Members of Cole Miller’s water polo team attended the rally, dressed in green. Photo: ABC

Rugby league great Wally Lewis acted as MC at the memorial.

Lewis was joined by a number of Queensland politicians, including Acting Premier Jackie Trad and independent senator Glenn Lazarus.

At the rally, Senator Lazarus told the ABC that more needed to be done to curb alcohol-fuelled violence.

“I think enough is enough. We’re seeing too much of this happening around the state and of course nationally,” he said.

In December, Mr Lazarus experienced a scare when his own son was “glassed” in a nightclub.

“About three weeks ago, I was in bed and at about 1:00am I got a phone call saying my son had been glassed from behind at a nightclub here in Brisbane,” he said.

“Of course the emotion that my wife and I went through was horrendous, so I can’t imagine what Cole Miller’s family went through when they got their phone call.”

The rally was organised by Gold Coast teenager Paris Woods, who said she had not known Mr Miller but felt compelled to act.

“Basically Cole was the same age as myself and I just felt really devastated that someone so young can die just so suddenly,” she said.

“He’s gone with his friends to have a good time, and this has just happened and it’s just really, really sad.

“I felt like I wanted to do something to raise awareness to young people that this can happen to anyone at any time.”

Facebook: Brisbane Barracudas Water Polo Club

Cole Miller died after an attack during a night out in Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley. Photo: Facebook: Brisbane Barracudas Water Polo Club

Ms Woods organised the rally via social media.

“Some of my friends are too scared to go out now because they might be the next target,” she said.

“I’ve had people saying they were going to go out the same night as Cole and now they’re scared because it could’ve been them.

“People my age, especially young people, think they’re indestructible so they can just go out and nothing will happen to them.

“But in reality things will happen and they can happen.”

Ms Woods said she hoped Monday’s gathering would help bring changes to behaviour.

“I don’t think no laws are going to change us – we have to change us,” she said.

“People need to start acting mature, not just going out and just punching people on the random. They need to learn how to keep their anger under control.”

Mr Miller’s death has reignited the political debate about how best to tackle alcohol-fuelled violence, with the Queensland Government looking to reduce the number of hours during which alcohol can be served.

His funeral will be held later this week.

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