Kumanjayi Little Baby's brother celebrates his first birthday without his sister

By ASHLEY NICKEL FOR DAILY MAIL and LLOYD JONES FOR AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATED PRESS Published: 12:24, 7 May 2026 | Updated: 12:24, 7 May 2026 Kumanjayi Little Baby's brother celebrated his 12th birthday, his first birthday without his little sister.  Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SCAICC) shared a photo of Ramsiah standing in front of his birthday cake while surrounded by loved ones on Wednesday. The large sheet cake featured a photo of Kumanjayi Little Baby being held by her maternal aunty, Karen White, and the logo of the Collingwood Magpies. 'Yesterday Ramsiah turned 12. His first birthday without his sister, Kumanjayi Little Baby,' SCAICC wrote on Thursday. 'His family and community wanted to make sure he had the chance to have his special day, especially during a time of such grief and sadness. 'The Town Camp community and family all kicked in for this amazing cake and some presents. Hundreds of Aussies rallied in the comments to wish the 12-year-old a happy birthday.  Kumanjayi Little Baby's brother, Ramsiah (centre), celebrated his 12th birthday on Wednesday The 12-year-old's cake featured a photo (above) of his allegedly murdered little sister Kumanjayi Little Baby (above) was last seen alive on Anzac Day, April 25 Kumanjayi Little Baby, five, was last seen alive on Anzac Day, April 25, at Old Timer's town camp in Alice Springs. Her body in bush was found five days later on April 30, five kilometres from the camp. Kumanjayi is a cultural substitute name used to avoid the taboo of speaking the name of a deceased person. Kumanjayi Little Baby was the name requested by the five-year-old's family. Her alleged killer, Jefferson Lewis, was taken to hospital under police escort on the night of April 30 after being beaten by a vigilante group. A candlelight vigil was held at Alice Springs' Anzac Oval while other memorials for Kumanjayi Little Baby were held across Australia on Thursday evening. Those attending were asked to wear pink, the little girl's favourite colour. The Alice Springs vigil was held at the request of the girl's family who asked that their 'sorry time' be respected, mayor Asta Hill said.  'This vigil will provide a time and space for us to all come together to stand with Kumanjayi Little Baby's family to hold this grief collectively,' she told AAP. A vigil was held for Kumanjayi Little Baby in Alice Springs (above) on Thursday night Those attending vigils were asked to wear pink, the little girl's favourite colour (pictured is the vigil in Alice Springs) Alice Springs had already shown how it could unite in support of each other, with many townsfolk voluntarily joining the five-day search for the girl in the desert heat. Well over 1,000 people gathered on the lawns outside Parliament House in Darwin, with territory politicians from all parties joining the sombre crowd to set down candles and sit on the grass. Organiser Shalayne Calma-Reid told AAP a show of respect was needed with a quiet vigil for the little girl. 'It's really upsetting. I'm a mother myself so I can only imagine what the family is going through.' A woman in pink, who only wanted her first name used, told AAP it was important for the community to come together to share the sorrow. 'To show we are united in wanting to address the issues and hopefully bring about some change for the positive,' Fiona said. Charles Gauci, the Catholic Bishop of Darwin and the NT, said vigils were about prayer and mutual support and the Alice gathering was backed by the Ministers Fraternal, made up of a number of church denominations. 'In the midst of something so horrible and tragic ... it's absolutely vital that people get together,' he told AAP. Vigils for Kumanjayi Little Baby were held around the country (pictured is the vigil in Sydney) Thousands around the country gathered to pay tribute to the five-year-old girl (pictured is the vigil in Sydney) 'It's about being there for each other, it's about sharing grief together. 'Sharing your grief is so healthy because you don't just stay caught up in your own little self, you are part of something larger, you are not alone.' The vigils come as police continue to track down and arrest people who took part in rioting and looting triggered by the arrest of Lewis, with 30 people already charged. The five-year-old's alleged murder has sparked a broader conversation about child protection services in the Northern Territory. It was revealed earlier this week that Kumanjayi Little Baby was the subject of six child protection reports in the week before her death. Those reports cited concern the little girl was living in a 'dangerous environment', had been neglected and was exposed to domestic violence. Kumanjayi Little Baby's father is currently in custody for alleged aggravated assault against her mother. The five-year-old was never removed from her mother's care.  NT Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, who is Kumanjayi Little Baby's aunt, said the girl's family 'knew the dangers she was in'. Well over 1,000 people gathered on the lawns outside Parliament House in Darwin (above) 'I suppose for me I probably expected that there would have been notifications in place given the circumstances surrounding her death, and no doubt, you know, and some of those came from within family as well,' Price told NT News. 'And I think there were family members that are beside themselves because they knew the dangers she was in already. 'The worst part is you're not surprised when you see it – that's the worst part. Again, more needs to be done.' NT Child Protection Minister Robyn Cahill said three staff have been sacked over the handling of the reports, with the incident now subject to an external investigation.  'There are so many children who have had repeated notifications made where zero action is taken for a number of years and those children subsequently have ended up in the criminal justice system,' Ms Cahill said. Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.