Lily Hooper funeral held following Nattai National Park hiking tragedy

Family and friends gathered on Thursday to hold a funeral service for 18-year-old Lily Hooper, who died following a solo hiking trip in Nattai National Park.

Ms. Hooper disappeared on August 12 while attempting a 12-kilometre return hike. After an eight-day multi-agency search involving specialist teams, emergency services, and the Australian Defence Force, her body was located in dense bushland near the Bunnum Pic walking trail. Preliminary reports suggested she may have suffered a fall on the first afternoon of her trek.

During the service, her parents, Kirrily and Jim Hooper, described her as an authentic and courageous individual who lived with enthusiasm. They noted her diverse interests, which included playing lead guitar in a rock band, studying the violin, and training in Muay Thai.