<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The grieving family of 10-year-old Matilda, the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/bondi-beach-shooting-terror-attack-victims-named/8e866d73-4e45-4198-b28b-3661b4d8ad58" rel="" target="" title="youngest victim of the Bondi Beach terror attack"><span>youngest victim of the Bondi Beach terror attack</span></a><span>, have spoken through their tears as they paid tribute to her at a vigil tonight.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Matilda had her face painted, petted farm animals and played with her younger sister as her family </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/bondi-beach-shooting-heroes-australians-who-helped-saved-lives-everything-to-know/48030086-c99b-46ca-8e32-2f38a9c99b0e" rel="" target="" title="celebrated the first day of Hanukkah at Australia's most popular beach on Sunday"><span>celebrated the first day of Hanukkah at Australia's most popular beach on Sunday</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But when </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/bondi-shooting" rel="" target="" title="accused father and son terrorists peppered bullets on the Jewish community"><span>accused father and son terrorists peppered bullets on the Jewish community</span></a><span>, Matilda was one of 15 people shot dead. </span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/bondi-beach-shooting-terror-attack-victims-named/8e866d73-4e45-4198-b28b-3661b4d8ad58" rel="" target="_blank" title="What we know about the 15 people killed in the Bondi Beach terror attack"><strong><span>What we know about the 15 people killed in the Bondi Beach terror attack</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Tonight, her family attended a menorah lighting ceremony at Bondi Pavilion, where hundreds of people gathered to pay their respects to the victims of the horrific incident.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Matilda's mother was visibly emotional and spoke through her sobs as she questioned what could have driven the gunmen to murder her daughter.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I can't imagine what monster stands on that bridge, and seeing a little girl running for her father, to hide with him, and he just pulled his trigger on her," she said.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/bondi-beach-shooting-matildas-family-break-down-as-they-farewell-10-year-old-at-vigil/eefccef9-1e1c-417a-b368-aae65fc41a33" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It wasn't just a bullet from a stray, it wasn't an accident. It was a bullet that was fired on her."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/bondi-beach-shooting-five-key-questions-answered/ea43e596-5ede-44ac-be31-65423acdb565" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>The five questions Australia is asking after the Bondi terror attack</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Matilda's brother said he was comforted by her memory.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The one thing that brings me comfort is that whenever I would ask Matilda if she knew that I loved her, she would immediately say 'yes'," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"She knew she was loved. She wasn't alone."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The family embraced and sobbed as they laid a framed photo of the smiling girl, her shoes and flowers to the growing pile of flowers and tributes at Bondi Pavilion. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Matilda had been fatally shot in front of her six-year-old sister.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She was rushed to hospital, but could not be saved. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/bondi-beach-shooting-heroes-australians-who-helped-saved-lives-everything-to-know/48030086-c99b-46ca-8e32-2f38a9c99b0e" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Powerful acts of heroism shaped the Bondi terror tragedy</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Her aunt, Lina Chernykh, shared footage of Matilda smiling and posing with her sister hours before she was killed.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She said the heartbroken family will never recover from their loss.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"A happy kid," she told 9News.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"She was open-hearted. Everywhere she goes, she was like a sun."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>La Perouse School said Matilda was their "little ray of sunshine" as they paid tribute to their pupil, who was "deeply respected and loved" by students and staff alike.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"She is genuinely the most kind, caring and compassionate young girl, who brightened everyone's day with her radiant smile and infectious laugh," the school wrote in a statement.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/bondi-beach-shooting-how-to-protect-yourself-on-social-media/7976a7c9-f4ef-4629-9778-876154945538" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>How to escape the flood of Bondi shooting videos online</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Matilda has an incredible gift for bringing joy to those around her."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Matilda had just won the school's Soroptimist International Literacy Award on Friday, just two days before the shooting.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>La Perouse School said they will always cherish and remember Matilda's strength and joy for life.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Matilda has been remembered as a "bright, joyful, and spirited child who brought light to everyone around her" by her language teacher Irina Goodhew, who has launched a fundraising appeal for her family.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Her memory will live on in our hearts," she wrote on the fundraising site.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><span>If you have been impacted by the terror attack in Bondi there is support available.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><span>To contact</span></em><span> </span><a href="https://www.lifeline.org.au/" target="" title="Lifeline Australia"><em><span>Lifeline Australia</span></em></a><em><span>, call 13 11 14 or text 0477 13 11 14. For people under 25 years old, you can contact</span></em><span> </span><a href="https://kidshelpline.com.au/" target="" title="Kids Helpline"><em><span>Kids Helpline</span></em></a><span> </span><em><span>at 1800 55 1800. Both of these are available on a 24/7 basis.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><span>If you wish to donate blood, you can find your nearest donor centre</span></em><span> </span><a href="https://www.lifeblood.com.au/donor-centre" target="_blank" title=""><em><span>here</span></em></a><em><span>.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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