Build-a-Bear Australia announced it has run out of the stuffed bees it launched as a fundraising campaign for the family of Bondi Beach victim, 10-year-old Matilda Bee.
After running out of stock in just three days, Build-A-Bear Australia encouraged the public to continue donating directly to the family via their GoFundMe page.
Matilda Bee was the youngest victim of the Bondi Beach massacre and was buried on Thursday, and yellow toy bees adorned her coffin. She was remembered as a “ray of sunshine” who loved animals and dancing.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese promised a crackdown on hate speech in the wake of the attack that left 15 dead.
Mourners honor Matilda Bee after Bondi Beach massacre
Matilda’s middle name was Bee, which inspired attendees to wear bee stickers and bring bee-themed toys and balloons, while some mourners wore yellow. Matilda’s family has asked the media not to use their surname.
“The tragic, so totally cruel, unfathomable murder of young Matilda is something to all of us as if our own daughter were taken from us,” said Rabbi Yehoram Ulman.
“Matilda grew up like a child would, loving what children love. She loved the outdoors and animals. She went to school, she had friends, everybody loved her.”
As reported by JTA, “I named her Matilda because she was our firstborn in Australia. And I thought that Matilda was the most Australian name that could ever exist,” her father, Michael, a Jewish immigrant from Ukraine, said at a vigil earlier in the week. “So just remember – remember her name.”