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Tributes paid to 'bubbly' backpacker killed in Australian hostel Tributes paid to 'bubbly' backpacker killed in Australian hostel
(35 minutes later)
A 21-year-old British woman stabbed to death at an Australian backpackers’ hostel by a knife-wielding attacker had just started working on a farm in Queensland.A 21-year-old British woman stabbed to death at an Australian backpackers’ hostel by a knife-wielding attacker had just started working on a farm in Queensland.
Mia Ayliffe-Chung, from Wirksworth, Derbyshire, was staying at Shelley’s Backpackers in Home Hill, north Queensland, and regularly posted diary entries and photographs on Facebook.Mia Ayliffe-Chung, from Wirksworth, Derbyshire, was staying at Shelley’s Backpackers in Home Hill, north Queensland, and regularly posted diary entries and photographs on Facebook.
The latest update, posted on 20 August, read: “Day 4 done. Just 85 left! Skills achieved; the ability to tell the difference between a rock and a clump of mud and throwing stones really far. The sun is too hot. Stupid Australia.”The latest update, posted on 20 August, read: “Day 4 done. Just 85 left! Skills achieved; the ability to tell the difference between a rock and a clump of mud and throwing stones really far. The sun is too hot. Stupid Australia.”
She had previously been living in Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast and working as a waitress at the Bedroom Lounge Bar before travelling 800 miles north for outdoor work on a farm, where she had, among other things, been cutting cane.She had previously been living in Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast and working as a waitress at the Bedroom Lounge Bar before travelling 800 miles north for outdoor work on a farm, where she had, among other things, been cutting cane.
She had been working on the farm following a round-the-world trip, during which she posted photographs of herself in stunning locations including Morocco, Turkey, India, Vietnam and Indonesia.She had been working on the farm following a round-the-world trip, during which she posted photographs of herself in stunning locations including Morocco, Turkey, India, Vietnam and Indonesia.
Her father, Howard Chung-Yap, lives in South Norwood, in south London. Her half-sister, Nicola Chung, was tearful when she opened the door to her father’s home. She said her father was too distraught to speak about his loss. Chung, 36, said she had spoken to her sister on Tuesday on the phone.Her father, Howard Chung-Yap, lives in South Norwood, in south London. Her half-sister, Nicola Chung, was tearful when she opened the door to her father’s home. She said her father was too distraught to speak about his loss. Chung, 36, said she had spoken to her sister on Tuesday on the phone.
“She was bubbly, carefree and had trained to be a nanny, because she loved children,” she said.“She was bubbly, carefree and had trained to be a nanny, because she loved children,” she said.
“She was just backpacking. She had been traveling for a year and had arrived in Australia.”“She was just backpacking. She had been traveling for a year and had arrived in Australia.”
Chung said her sister was awaiting a three-month “farming placement” in order to secure an extension to her visa.Chung said her sister was awaiting a three-month “farming placement” in order to secure an extension to her visa.
At the home of her mother, Rosemary, in Matlock, Derbyshire, friends said the family were too upset to speak and would be issuing a statement via the police.
Neighbours who were visibly shocked by the news said the family had lived in the area for around a year. They had not known Mia that well as she had been away studying and travelling.
It is understood that Mia did not know the other British man injured in the attack and was not travelling with him.
Jamison Stead, 23, with whom Ayliffe-Chung had a relationship while in Australia, described her as a “beautiful soul”.
The Australian sales rep told the Press Association: “We met towards the end of April through friends in Surfers [Paradise].
“She was living in Surfers on the Gold Coast and planning on exploring Australia, with the intention to find a sponsorship as she wanted to stay here as she had fallen in love with the country and its people.
“I can’t quite get my head around what’s happened. Truly devastated, more just disbelief that this has happened. It’s something you hear about but never think that it would happen to someone you were close to.
“She was a beautiful girl who had her whole life ahead of her and we spoke of what the future may hold in store for her and what she wanted to do. It’s sad knowing that she won’t be able to do those things. My heart goes out to her and her family.”
Grieving friends described Ayliffe-Chung as a “free spirit”. Before arriving in Australia she had travelled to Bali, according to friend and colleague Mykah Powell, 18, from the Gold Coast, who said: “She loved her cat Leo, which she purchased here in Australia, very much and was forever Snapchatting the cuteness.”Grieving friends described Ayliffe-Chung as a “free spirit”. Before arriving in Australia she had travelled to Bali, according to friend and colleague Mykah Powell, 18, from the Gold Coast, who said: “She loved her cat Leo, which she purchased here in Australia, very much and was forever Snapchatting the cuteness.”
According to her Facebook profile, on which she calls herself Mimi, Ayliffe-Chung went to Ecclesbourne school in Derbyshire and Anthony Gell school in Wirksworth before studying childcare at Buxton college and psychology at Chesterfield college.According to her Facebook profile, on which she calls herself Mimi, Ayliffe-Chung went to Ecclesbourne school in Derbyshire and Anthony Gell school in Wirksworth before studying childcare at Buxton college and psychology at Chesterfield college.
She posted about being away from home, writing on 19 July: “The hardest thing living my dream, missing the important home things. Graduations, people in hospital, funerals and birthdays.”She posted about being away from home, writing on 19 July: “The hardest thing living my dream, missing the important home things. Graduations, people in hospital, funerals and birthdays.”
Among tributes from friends and travellers, Kyle Godwin wrote: “We really do live in a cruel world. The only good thing to come from this is that heaven really truly has gained an amazing and beautiful soul. I love you more than anything in this world beautiful.”Among tributes from friends and travellers, Kyle Godwin wrote: “We really do live in a cruel world. The only good thing to come from this is that heaven really truly has gained an amazing and beautiful soul. I love you more than anything in this world beautiful.”
Amy Browne, 19, from the Gold Coast, who worked as a bartender at the lounge bar with Ayliffe-Chung, told the Press Association: “Mia was honestly the most bubbliest and most caring girl I knew. She got along with everyone she met, she just had that gorgeous personality that everyone seemed to enjoy.Amy Browne, 19, from the Gold Coast, who worked as a bartender at the lounge bar with Ayliffe-Chung, told the Press Association: “Mia was honestly the most bubbliest and most caring girl I knew. She got along with everyone she met, she just had that gorgeous personality that everyone seemed to enjoy.
“She always had a smile on her face, so innocent and full of life and love. Our memories will be cherished for ever and I know she’d want us all to stay positive in the darkest of times. Rest in peace my beautiful friend, heaven has truly gained another angel.“She always had a smile on her face, so innocent and full of life and love. Our memories will be cherished for ever and I know she’d want us all to stay positive in the darkest of times. Rest in peace my beautiful friend, heaven has truly gained another angel.
Tommy Martin, 24, from Newbury, Berkshire, who met her in Bali before reuniting on the Gold Coast, told the agency: “She was a free spirit who didn’t have any set plans but that’s the way she loved it.”Tommy Martin, 24, from Newbury, Berkshire, who met her in Bali before reuniting on the Gold Coast, told the agency: “She was a free spirit who didn’t have any set plans but that’s the way she loved it.”
Monique Cross, a Australian friend, said: “She was a gorgeous person. It’s an awful tragedy – I can’t believe it.”Monique Cross, a Australian friend, said: “She was a gorgeous person. It’s an awful tragedy – I can’t believe it.”
Paul Lovatt, the head of pastoral care at Anthony Glee school, said Ayliffe-Chung would be remembered as “enriching the school environment”.Paul Lovatt, the head of pastoral care at Anthony Glee school, said Ayliffe-Chung would be remembered as “enriching the school environment”.
The school was “shocked and saddened,” he said. “We knew Mia as a student with so much joy and energy who was well-liked by her friends and teachers. She joined our school in Year 9 and flourished here both in making strong friendships and in achieving high-level GCSEs.The school was “shocked and saddened,” he said. “We knew Mia as a student with so much joy and energy who was well-liked by her friends and teachers. She joined our school in Year 9 and flourished here both in making strong friendships and in achieving high-level GCSEs.
“Mia was a bubbly student who was energetic, caring and who immersed herself in life, enriching the school environment she contributed to. Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this most difficult of times.”“Mia was a bubbly student who was energetic, caring and who immersed herself in life, enriching the school environment she contributed to. Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this most difficult of times.”