For 17 years, the Lismore community has mourned the death of a 25-year-old German backpacker many had never met.
Key points:
- The Lismore community felt shame, pain and suspicion following the discovery of Simone Strobel’s body in 2005.
- Ms Strobel’s family have no anger towards the town of Lismore, where their daughter was found murdered.
- The arrest of a man in connection with her death is helping to heal the Lismore community
Simone Strobel’s body was found naked, hidden under palm leaves in a petanque court five days after she was reported missing in February 2005.
The kindergarten teacher spent the fortnight before her death traveling down the east coast of Australia with her boyfriend, sister and friend.
No one has ever been charged in his death.
The police arrested a 42-year-old man this week in connection with the backpacker’s death.
He is now being extradited to NSW from Western Australia.
“They need answers”
Jenny Dowell was a Lismore City Councilor at the time, who later became Mayor.
He said when he heard the news of the arrest, his first thoughts were for Strobel’s family.
“They need answers, they need justice, and I hope this news will result in that,” he said.
Simone Strobel’s naked body was found under palm leaves. (ABC Archives)
A coronial inquest in 2007 found that the evidence available at the time did not justify the matter being referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
In 2005, Richmond Police District detectives established Strike Force Howea to investigate Strobel’s death and continued to work with their German counterparts.
Simone Strobel was wearing a black shirt and red skirt the night she disappeared. (Supplied: NSW Police)
Ms Dowell said despite a lot of work behind the scenes, many in Lismore thought the police had forgotten about the case.
“I think this is a reminder that the wheels of justice, the wheels of police action, have been turning,” he said.
Ms Dowell said the Lismore community had rallied around the Strobel family all those years ago.
A local travel agent even launched a fundraiser for them.
“People were pouring into the travel agency to donate money,” he said.
“The fence near the pétanque club was filled with flowers, candles and tributes and everyone was talking about it.
“We were all mortified that this young man had come to such a horrific end in our community.
“It’s a horrible, horrible feeling to think that a young man has traveled all over the world for the adventure of a lifetime and it has come to an end in our city.”
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The family has no animosity towards Lismore
Ms Dowell said the killing had shaken the Lismore community to its core.
“There was a feeling of great shame, great pain and suspicion and worry and all that sort of thing. It was an incredible moment,” she said.
Former Lismore Mayor Jenny Dowell says Lismore felt a great connection with Simone Strobel. (ABC North Coast: Bruce MacKenzie)
Ms. Dowell was in contact with the family in the years after Ms. Strobel’s body was found.
“The family felt no animosity or anger towards Lismore. They were very excited that our community cared about Simone,” Ms Dowell said.
“The family sent me a lovely postcard with a poem that was one of Simone’s favourites.
“They sent me a little heart as a symbol of love for our community and for their care.”
This poem is now inscribed on a granite bench in a park near the caravan park where Ms Strobel was staying, a few meters from where her body was found.
Dowell said Strobel’s family wanted Lismore to remember their daughter.
“With any investigation that comes to an end or some kind of conclusion, it helps the healing of a community,” Ms Dowell said.
A marble memorial to Simone Strobel, whose body was found in Lismore in 2005. (ABC: Miranda Saunders)
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