They came to remember Tara Brown.
Not the woman who died after being run off the road and bashed, allegedly by her ex-partner Lionel Patea, on the Gold Coast last week.
Not the woman who has become a figurehead for raising awareness of domestic violence in Australia.
They remembered Tara Brown the mother, daughter, co-worker and friend.
The sporty 24-year-old with a love for selfies was farewelled at a sombre funeral at Southport Church of Christ on a rainy Thursday morning.
Hundreds turned out to say goodbye.
Some wore suits or dresses.
Some wore T-shirts with an image of Ms Brown or messages printed on them.
Most wore homemade white ribbons in a public stand against domestic violence.
In a service that ran for just over an hour, friends and relatives of Ms Brown took the time to speak about her life, rather than her tragic death.
Her young daughter's energy could not be contained, the three-year-old spending the service running to her mother's casket and skipping in the aisles in scenes both endearing and heartbreaking.
Ms Brown's aunt Maria Hinton said the New Zealand-born woman with a passion for rugby union and touch football had "amazed" everyone with her beauty.
Ms Hinton said despite the sorrow brought by Ms Brown's tragic death, there was a legacy
from the horror.
"You've challenged us to make our world a safer place for our children," Ms Hinton told the congregation.
"Know that you'll live in our hearts."
Ms Brown's grief-stricken mother Natalie Hinton, wearing a white dress which made her stand out among the largely black-clad crowd, didn't speak during the service and cried as her daughter's casket was taken to and from the church.
She did find the strength to pick up her granddaughter as the casket was driven away from the church.
As Maori farewells were sung to the departing hearse, the pair embraced with sadness in both sets of eyes.
