The Message . Bringing into focus Filipino presence in Australia . June 2013 | Vol . 3 No . 9 | Ang Kalatas Australia | www . kalatas . com . au News | 03
Justice for Joan
from page 1
The gathering was held as Filipino-Australians in Brisbane began pooling resources to help fund the cost of repatriating Joan ’ s body to her hometown in Lanao del Norte .
The chaplain of the Filipino community in Brisbane has initiated an appeal for donations via a letter circulated to the various Filipino-Australian associations in Queensland .
“ Her body is still at the coroner waiting for the go signal from the police investigators for its release . Cory and Joan ’ s family in Mindanao wish to repatriate her body , not cremated ,” said chaplain Rev Marce Singson in an open letter posted at the community website of the Filipino Brisbane radio programme in Radio 4EB 98.1FM .
‘ The repatriation of her body will be a big relief and will ease the pain for the whole family of
Joan in Mindanao .’ Joan arrived in Australia a few years ago as a student . She met and married Cory in 2011 . The couple got married in Baroy , Lanao Del Norte Province but the couple decided to settle in Australia .
Before her death , friends said Joan was overjoyed by her pregnancy that she had arranged with her co-workers a baby shower for a baby girl she and Cory expected .
Photo credits : Erwin Cabucos , www . 4eb . org . au / filipino
No clear suspect on the case has yet emerged and at least 40 police officers are working roundthe-clock investigating the case .
A Facebook page – R . I . P . Joan Canino Ryther – has drawn over 5,700 visits with over 1,000 people expressing their shock and grief at the tragic death of Joan .
The condolence page stated : “ Share this page so that we can show support for Cory Ryther and his Wife Joan Ryther and Unborn Child Camille Gayle Ryther . Joan Rhyther was sexually assaulted and murdered while on her way to go to work at McDonald ’ s at Logan Central , where she was attacked and murdered on the footpath …” [ Titus Filio with reports from Erwin Cabucos in Brisbane , www . 4eb . org . au / filipino ]