Community members of a Sydney Inner West suburb held a 'bittersweet' event to remember the life of 24-year-old Indian student Tosha Thakka who was brutally murdered in her flat in Croydon in March 2011. Her body was found stuffed in a suitcase.
With her family and the local community in shock, the local council of Sydney's Inner West have used the 'power of art' to remember her with a unique artwork in the same street Ms Thakkar lived and died in.
An artwork by artist George Rose now fills Edwin Street with colour and energy, paying homage to Ms Thakkar, who was murdered inside the boarding house where she lived.
It's a special commemoration of her life, with artwork created in collaboration with residents in a bid to bring the community together in the aftermath of this tragedy.
Artists George Rose said her artwork is titled Croydon - Past Present Future.
"The lotus flower is the floral emblem paying tribute to Tosha's home country of India. For the present, I chose the white rabbit spotted early each morning walking down the lane with its elderly owner. Rose blossoms symbolise the future while the Turpentine blossom appears as a reminder of what was, and what will be," Rose said.
Many community members were present at the launch, with Councillor Mark Drury saying: "The artwork .. seeks to harness the power of art to generate community connection and healing by bringing positivity into the space.
The Inner West Council stated that it "brings a powerful and positive female energy to the site while honouring Tosha at the same time."
Iconic street artworks
Remembering Tosha Thakkar is also the beginning of an initiative to make Croydon a better place.
The Inner West Council plans to bring artists, residents, property owners and community partners together to create iconic new street artworks in public places.
The council will launch more than 30 new street artwork commissions by contemporary artists, to be rolled out this year.
The story of Tosha Thakkar
Tosha Thakkar had been studying Accountancy at the Sydney campus of Southern Cross University. She was also working at Woolworths and living with friends at a boarding house above an abandoned nail salon on Edwin street in Croydon.
The 24-year-old, who arrived in Australia in 2007 on a student visa, lived in Croydon for almost six months before being raped and murdered by her next-door neighbour on 9th March 2011.
19-year-old Stani-Reginald, a Tamil refugee from Sri Lanka, pledged guilty to raping and murdering Ms Thakkar. Her body had been stuffed it into a suitcase and was thrown away.
Stani-Reginald was sentenced to jail for 45 years in 2013.
