Her name was Yukako

Yukako was a kind, funny and joyful woman from Japan who dreamed of improving her English in Melbourne and was living that dream until her life was tragically cut short in a bicycle accident with a truck on King Street in the CBD on her way to school on May 17th. 

She has a family, a mother, brother, daughter and partner who generously shared stories about her life during their time in Melbourne. They told stories of a loving woman, who lived each day with passion and joy, and who really made the most of her time on this Earth. She was surrounded by friends who loved her in all the different communities that she was a part of, both in Melbourne and Japan. She was caring, always helped everyone around her, always sought to be positive and to do everything with a smile on her face. It’s hard to believe that a woman so full of life is no longer here with us, and she is, and will continue to be, missed by so many people who knew and loved her. 

Where will the funds go? 

All funds will go to the family to assist them in commemorating Yukako. Thankfully, respective governments are assisting with costs, so donated funds can be put towards other expenses. 

Yukako will be going back to Japan with her family this week, but they would like to have a memorial plaque or bench for family and friends to visit and remember her here in Melbourne, a city that she loved and the city where she took her last breath.