By Tanya Steele
A planned then cancelled vigil, flags at half mast, ribbons dangling from trees in the hills and a charity fund raised in her honour – Isla Bell will rest in power.
December 7 was to be the date of a vigil for the young woman whose brutal murder sent shockwaves through the nation.
Organisers instead requested people hold their own private vigils and to tie red and orange ribbons around the hills in her memory.
Australian Femicide Watch run by journalist Sherele Moody posted to social media on 7 December that instead a secret vigil was held for Isla, alleging the event was cancelled due to threats of violence from men.
‘.. because abusive men threatened to harm anyone going to the public event,” she wrote.
On the same day the vigil for Isla Bell was to be held, her family launched a charity in her name.
Labelled The Isla Bell Charitable Fund, Isla’s mother, Justine Spokes has established the Isla Bell Charitable Fund to honour her daughter.
‘Rest in Power’ reads the newly established website, which has been launched to establish an art award in Isla’s honour, celebrating creative excellence and create a scholarship for young women pursuing studies that reflected Isla’s passion for art, animals, and nature.
The Isla Bell Charitable Fund was founded by Isla’s mother, Justine Spokes, her dad, Sean Ryan, uncle Kieran Dionysus and Dr Atalanti Dionysus.
Isla Bell was found deceased by police on Wednesday 20 November, sending shock through the community as flagpoles in Belgrave and Upwey were flown at half mast for the 19-year-old, who was well known in the Dandenong Ranges.
Monday 25 November marked the International Day for the elimination of violence against women.
Monbulk MP Daniela De Martino spoke in Parliament on 27 November and said she was there to pay tribute to a young woman who was loved by so many.
“Isla had a lifetime of promise ahead, but that was violently taken from her. Her loved ones feel profound grief and a burning anger that another woman’s life has been lost, allegedly at the hands of a man,” she said.
Ms De Martino quoted a speech from Isla’s mother, Justine Spokes in her address – the reality is we live in a world where men occupy the positions of power and are still making decisions for women whether they like it or not.
“A world where women are trafficked, go missing daily, and it barely raises an eyebrow, let alone a mention. She continued: When will men care enough … and hold each other accountable?” she quoted.
“As women, we need to stop forgiving men for their mistakes when they haven’t asked for permission. The media must also be held accountable. When they smear a woman’s reputation they add fuel to the fire of misogyny.”
Minister for Jobs and Industry, Minister for Treaty and First Peoples, and Minister for Women Natalie Hutchins spoke on the same day and said so far this year the Counting Dead Women researchers of the Destroy the Joint project have shown that 66 women have been killed by violence in Australia.
“Three-quarters of those women were killed by someone they know. This could be a current or a former partner, a friend, a colleague or a member of their family,” Ms Hutchins said.
“We deserve an Australia where women’s lives count, not where we count women’s deaths, but violence, most often from men, is cutting women’s lives short,” she said.
“I would like to share my condolences to the families and friends of Isla Bell, whose murder has broken the hearts of Victorians. This absolutely needs to stop.”
“Every time we read about women that have been murdered, we are still in shock, and it reinforces that women are not safe.”
Ms Moody puts the grim statistic at 95 women who have died by violence by 9 December, 15 in Victoria this year.
“I document ALL women killed regardless of perpetrator gender or relationship to the victim. This means some women are killed as a result of domestic violence, some due to associate violence and some due to stranger violence.” she wrote on social media.
“My count includes women lost to murder, manslaughter, neglect, and other unlawful acts. I also count Australian women killed overseas. No woman will ever be left behind on my watch.”
Other tributes further afield have been made in Isla’s name, a group of young RMIT art students decided to withdraw their works from their university’s end-of-year showcase to pay tribute to her and the other women who lost their lives in Australia in 2024.
The showcase, held from November 19-24, was considered the “biggest event” of the students’ three-year course.
Instead of displaying their art, the students turned their canvases away to conceal their works and painted the name “Isla Bell” across the walls.
As 16 days of activism against gender-based violence come to an end on 10 December, Isla’s legacy continues on and MP De Martino said Justine wants to see change in our institutions and society so that women and children no longer die at the hands of violent men.
“This was Isla’s wish too – that funny, intelligent, caring, empathic, strong young woman who should still be here today. Vale,” she said.
Details of the newly establish charity can be found at: https://the-isla-bell-charitable-fund.raiselysite.com/
