Mourners farewell Keriba Omasker (Our Children)

A huge memorial service to remember the eight children who were murdered in Cairns last month has begun with a “prayer of strength” at the Cairns Convention Centre.

Flowers outside the memorial service.

A huge memorial service to remember the eight children who were murdered in Cairns last month has begun with a traditional Torres Strait Islander prayer and song from the Torres Strait Islander and Australian South Sea Islander communities among the flower-laden Cairns Convention Centre.

Thousands of mourners have filled Cairns' waterfront exhibition centre on Saturday for the service including dignitaries Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Queensland Premier Campbell Newman and Cairns Mayor Bob Manning who laid wreaths to pay their respects.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and Queensland Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk are also in attendance.

The funeral service will be followed by a 12-kilometre funeral procession to a local Cairns cemetery where the children will be laid to rest.