Dre Cooper: Forever 11, forever loved

The community came together at the vigil organised by the Rumbalara Football Netball Club at the club’s oval to remember the young boy who tragically died in the Broken River on Monday, November 2.

Family members, Dre’s football club teammates, friends, children, the town’s First Nations community, and members of the wider Shepparton community stood side-by-side as they remembered the youngster.

Only the sounds of a didgeridoo and clap sticks could be heard as the hundreds there formed a guard of honour for Dre’s family to walk through to start the vigil.

Dre’s Rumbalara Under 12s and Under 14s footy teammates stood together, dressed in their club’s jerseys.

Others stood and laid a comforting hand on each other as countless people spoke of Dre and their love for him and his family.

Speaking on behalf of the Rumbalara Football Netball Club, Jarvis Atkinson spoke of the sadness everyone felt.

“My heart hurts,” he said.

“Dre, you were loved by so many.

“Your strength, your smile, your courage, made this world a better place.”

Mr Atkinson said the vigil was a chance to bring together the community to remember Dre.

“It’s about surrounding his family with love,” he said.

“And about being there for one another, and sharing in his memory, and reminding his family they are not alone.”

Allan McGee was Dre’s coach in the under 14s.

He told how the 11-year-old would play in the under 14s on a Saturday and the club’s under 12s team on the Sunday.

He spoke of being “in awe of Dre’s ability to play the game”.

“His skill set was unbelievable,” he said.

“He had so much potential at such a young age.”

He urged all of those at the vigil to keep Dre’s spirit alive in their thoughts.

“Dre will always be part of our football club and he will never be forgotten,” he said.

Dre’s teammates from his two Rumbalara teams then joined to sing the club’s song in honour of their friend and teammate.

It was some of Dre’s friends who had many of the most heart-wrenching things to say.

Child after child stepped forward to speak about their friend and how he was such a special person to each of them.

One told of him being “such a sweet boy with a beautiful heart”, and how he would be remembered for his love of football and for the laughs and jokes they had together.

Another spoke of special times spent down at the river catching yabbies together, while yet another told of how they would go fishing with Dre night after night.

Another told how Dre had been a friend to her when she didn’t have many friends, and how they would text for hours.

Another spoke of how Dre was the first real friend he ever had and how they would go fishing all the time and he loved kicking a ball with him.

Yet another spoke of how he would always bring a smile to their face.

Wilmot Road Primary School education support worker Daniel Mupenda told of a cheeky student, who was always smiling and making people laugh.

“You don’t realise the impact a student has on you until they are gone,” he said.

The school’s principal, Kirsten Dickins, spoke of Dre being a “great kid”.

“Dre was a kid who was a friend to every kid in the school,” she said.

“He was the biggest charmer I ever met.”

The more official part of the vigil closed with a slideshow of photos of Dre, followed by the lighting of candles and a minute’s silence to remember the boy who will remain forever 11 and forever loved.