(adds comments from Mr Francis Tabone, Maltese Ambassador in Australia)
Our Lady of Victories Church in Sydney was packed by mourners, many of whom were Maltese, earlier today for the funeral of Doujon Zammit, the Maltese-Australian who was bashed to death on the Greek island of Mykonos. Father Michael Smith celebrated the funeral mass which lasted more than two hours.
The young Maltese-Australian was given long applause during the funeral Mass.
During the ceremony, a short movie depicting Doujon's life from birth up to his fateful trip was shown, the Foreign Affairs Ministry confirmed.
“I’m sad that I’ll never see you again. You were like a brother to me. I’m grateful that I knew you. I will try to give everyone in my life the same respect and energy as you did to others,” cousin Cameron told the mourners, many of whom had to stand in the aisles and outside.
Zeake, Doujon’s younger brother, had words of admiration for his brother. “When I think of my brother, I think of a unique individual living his life... He always managed to light up a room, yet he was very down to earth. When I was down he was always there to pick me up, even when my heart was breaking.”
Rose Miranda, a member of the Facebook group, which now has more than 16,500 members, wrote: “it just shows how good of a guy you were... I went past the church today where all your loved ones have farewelled you!! It was great to see how many people respect you, for being a young guy... God is with your family. Rest in peace”.
At the end of the Mass, which was attended by the Maltese Ambassador Francis Tabone and his wife, consul general Annamaria Bonnici, and the Consul-General of Greece, Nikolaos Oikonomdis, Doujon’s coffin was carried from the church by his family and friends. As relatives formed a circle beside the hearse, 20 white doves and 20 white balloons were released into the air.
The Maltese Ambassador met Doujon’s father Oliver, and grandfather Greg, who originally hails from Gudja. “Oliver expressed the wish to establish a Doujon Zammit Transplant Gift Fund in Malta, similar to the one he launched today in Australia,” Mr Tabone said. “He felt very proud to be Maltese and appreciated the help and support the family received from the Maltese-Australian community.”
Mr Tabone said that the Malta High Commission and the Consulate General in Sydney are in constant contact with the Zammit family to ensure that all possible help is given.
Doujon’s life ended when his father had to take the heartbreaking decision to turn off life support when it became clear that Doujon would never recover from the coma he suffered after the attack by Greek bouncers. Cameron Tabone, who was with Doujon, suffered a broken nose and a broken wrist in the attack. The two had travelled to Dubai, Rome, Venice, Barcelona, Ibiza and Malta before heading for Greece.
A 25-year-old bouncer, who admitted beating Doujon on the head with an extendable metal baton, is in custody after he was charged with his death. Three other men have been charged with complicity in the attack.
Doujon’s organs were donated and four people have benefitted from the kind gesture. The intensive care ward of the Errikos Dinan hospital in Athens will be named after the young Maltese-Australian.