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Schoolboy Luke Batty farewelled in cloud of colour

Murdered Victorian schoolboy Luke Batty is being farewelled amid blooms of yellow and splashes of colour.

The 11-year-old was killed last week by his father Greg Anderson after cricket training at Tyabb, on the Mornington Peninsula.

Hundreds of Luke’s family, friends and schoolmates have gathered at Flinders Christian Community College on Friday morning to pay their respects.

Luke’s yellow coffin is adorned with bright flowers and a stuffed SpongeBob SquarePants toy.

Luke’s grandmother Josephine Batty, who lives in England, told the congregation her time with her grandson, and his mum Rosie Batty, was precious.

“We treasured our times with Rosie and Luke,” she said.

“We were so blessed to spend five weeks with him last Christmas and January.”

 

Head of Flinders’ junior school Greg Partridge said Luke was a confident boy with a positive impact on students around him.

“Teachers found it hard to discipline him when they were laughing at what he had just done,” he said.

“You will be missed dearly Luke.”

Family friend Matthew Rendell recalled giving Luke a handshake two weeks ago.

“I thought, gee you’ve turned into a little man,” he said.

Rosie Batty read Psalm 23 to the congregation.

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me,” she read.

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Mourners arrive at Luke Batty’s funeral. Photo: AAP

Reverend David Rietveld said Luke was a boy of integrity, faith and hope.

“Luke would seek to ask not just the simple or the surface questions, he would ask the deep and the profound questions about life, about God, about meaning,” he said.

“His integrity drove him to understand him what life was about.”

Rev Rietveld praised the work of Rosie Batty against domestic violence as a positive to come out of a terrible tragedy.
A slideshow of photos was shown on projectors to mourners in the school’s chapel and gym.

Students, together with members of Luke’s scout group and cricket team, formed a guard of honour as his casket was carried out of the chapel to the sounds of Twist and Shout sung by Bruce Springsteen.

A private cremation service will be held later on Friday afternoon.

Mourners were asked to donate to an anti-domestic violence fund instead of leaving flowers.

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