The close-knit community of Bribie Island is coming together in grief and hope following a tragic incident in which a 17-year-old girl lost her life after a shark attack. The loss has deeply affected local residents, who have rallied around the bereaved family in the wake of the tragedy.
Terry Young, the Federal Member for Longman and a devoted Christian well known on Bribie Island, recently joined us on Rise and Shine to talk about how the community is responding. ‘I attended the vigil on the beach last night where the tragedy occurred,’ said Terry. ‘And there were up to 3000 people. That’s the sort of people that are in this community. And this family, that’s how well respected they are.’
Terry explained that the young victim, Charlize Zmuda, had not only been a beloved community member but was also actively involved as a surf life saver. ‘It’s just awful,’ he said. ‘She served as a patrol and ironically, saving lives and protecting people where the tragedy occurred.’
Coming Together in Grief and Hope
Reflecting on the event, Terry commented on the strength and unity of the Bribie Island community, describing it as resembling a close-knit village. ‘If you had to describe Bribie Island, you’d say it was a village. You can’t help but be affected by the love that has just been poured out upon this family.’
Terry, who is actively involved in the local church community, pointed out that Christian churches on the island are expected to play a significant role in the healing process. ‘I’m sure the church community on Bribie Island, especially the Baptist church, will be doing all they can,’ he said.
When talking about the atmosphere at the vigil, Terry described the crowd as stunned and unprepared for such a loss. ‘There’s just no way you expect something like this,’ he said. ‘You can prepare for a long illness, but something like this is just so sudden. I think the community and the family are still in shock. It will take weeks for this to actually settle in.’
As Bribie Island grieves, its Christian community is ready to help those in need with prayer, fellowship, and practical support. ‘They have a terrific church community on Bribie Island,’ said Terry.
