Bondi attack victim's father opens up about grief

Former North Melbourne AFL star Kerry Good has spoken publicly for the first time about the loss of his daughter in the Bondi Junction stabbing massacre.

Ashlee Good was one of six people killed in the horrific rampage at Westfield Bondi Junction in April last year. 

She was in the busy shopping centre with her then nine-month-old daughter, Harriet, and was fatally wounded while attempting to protect her baby from Joel Cauchi's attack. 

The 38-year-old mum managed to hand off Harriet to nearby strangers, an act that saved her injured daughter's life. 

While Harriet suffered stab wounds and was taken to Sydney Children's Hospital in critical condition, she was eventually able to return home. 

Ms Good's father opened up about the tragedy in an interview on Saturday. 

“Last year was very tough,” he said, in his first interview since his daughter's murder. 

“I just couldn’t wait for the year to end. I couldn’t wait to get rid of it.”

The former footy star, who also owns racehorses, had a moment of cheer over the weekend after a year of hardship when his horses, Thedoctoroflove and Taramansour, won at Melbourne’s famous Flemington racecourse.

“I actually wore the same suit as I wore to my daughter’s funeral today and it might have helped,” he told Racenet. 

“It’s a very special day.”

Following the attack, a GoFundMe was started for baby Harriet and her father, Dan Flanagan, which raised nearly $850,000.

Mr Flanagan posted a heartwarming update on the fundraising page in August, thanking the thousands of donors, as well as medical staff, friends and family for their support in the wake of his "unimaginable loss."

“Nothing will ever dull the pain of losing Ash, but reading your messages and seeing what an impact Ash has had on so many people has provided a lot of comfort.”

“The day our family of three became a family of two will never make sense to me, but countless people — including every single one of you who wrote messages and donated through this page — have shown me that while tragic things do unfortunately happen, there is more good in this world, than bad.

“While Harriet and I do our best to navigate our new world privately, I want to make one public promise to each of you: that the kindness and generosity you’ve shown us will never be forgotten.

“From the bottom of my heart — thank you.”

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