Former Brisbane Broncos captain Wally Lewis will MC a tribute rally to slain teen Cole Miller in the Brisbane CBD today, at which a crowd of thousands is expected to attend.
At this stage, more than 3700 people have indicted that they plan to go to the rally, which begins at 12.15pm in King George Square, via the Remember Cole Miller Facebook page.
The event was started by a young Gold Coast woman who wanted to honour Miller, but his his water polo teammates and colleagues put their hands up to take over as the scale of the event grew.
Rugby league great Lewis offered to speak at the event because of a personal connection – his daughter played for Miller’s water polo club, the Brisbane Barracudas, in the national league.
Barracudas president Tycho Buningh says that the club’s members are “doing it tough” since their friend’s death, following a coward punch attack in Fortitude Valley earlier this month:
“It’s been very tough on the boys that he played with and even the girls but it’s been great having all the family support ready for these players. We’ve had great support from family, from friends, from Queensland water polo, Australian water polo and that’s really helped these guys and girls deal with this tragedy.”
Past and present students of Brisbane State High, Miller’s former school, are planning to wear their formal uniforms to symbolise their pride in the “brave, strong” young man who will “always be part of the BSHS family.”
His alleged killers, Armstrong Renata and Daniel Maxwell, remain in custody after a court hearing last week, and Renata has had his charge upgraded to unlawful striking causing death, which carries a maximum life sentence.
Story: Brisbane Times
Photo: Facebook
