Support flows for Kuki

Quick response to appeal from Far North

THE Chilean backpacker who was stabbed in the neck in a horror attack at a Cairns hostel has been urged to not let the experience overshadow her trip Down Under.

Nearly $1500 in just three days has been raised to ensure Constanza “Kuki” Escudero does not depart Far North Queensland with traumatic memories.

Ms Escudero, 26, was attacked at Geckos Backpackers Halpin, who is in the process of redeveloping the 18hole Kewarra Beach golf course, has donated 50 barramundi from the course’s lakes to the Cairns Area Fish Stocking Group.

The barra were originally stocked in the lakes for tilapia Hostel in Parramatta Park last Monday. The young traveller suffered an 8cm stab wound to control by the State Government a few years ago. Since then, some have grown well over 1m long.

Group spokesman Kim Andersen said the native fish would be transported to a new home in the Barron River, under state permit. her neck, and her friend Marisol Fernandez, 26, was also threatened.

“Any barra over 85cm is pretty much a female,” he said.

“So these ones will be able to contribute to spawning stock fairly well, with 30-40 million eggs out of just one fish.”

The fish were captured via electro-fishing, and then transported

Ms Escudero’s father flew into Cairns on Thursday, and the local tourism industry has rallied to offer support.

A GoFundMe campaign, set up by Cairns businessman Martin Anton, so far has attracted more than $1400 in donations, including several from fellow South Americans travelling through Australia.

One donor, Sofia Baez Staiger, wrote that she hoped Ms Escudero became better soon. via trucks to an undisclosed location along the river.

Paradise Palms is being transformed into a mixed use residential subdivision, complete with tourist/holiday park, public open space and recreation areas, retirement village, childcare centre and school.

“Don’t let a bad experience overshadow your future,” she said. “I know it seems easy, but it isn’t. In the end, when you experience the wonderfulness of this trip, you will realise that what happened to you will be a great anecdote.”

Another, Brett Squibb, said he donated because he simply loved Cairns.

“I want tourists to know there are good people here,” he said.

Northern Territory man Raynard Gregory Moodoonuthi, 36, has been charged with attempted murder and has been remanded in custody until October.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said authorities would do everything they could to ensure justice was served.

“I think the message is Cairns is a tourism hotspot, and of course, the police will do everything they can,” she said.