Distress beacon borrowing program proposed after teen hiker's death

Wollondilly Council has committed to launching a bushwalker safety initiative following the tragic death of 18-year-old hiker Lily Hooper. The proposed program, which includes the provision of distress beacons for hikers, was developed in collaboration with Hooper's family. The council will partner with NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service to implement the program.

Lily's body was discovered in Nattai National Park near Mittagong after an extensive eight-day search following her solo hike on the Bonnen Pic Walking Trail. Almost 1,000 individuals from various agencies participated in the search when she failed to return. The cause of her death remains unknown, although NSW Police stated her body was found far from the trail.

At a recent council meeting, Mayor Matt Gould expressed that the council would work with the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service to increase the availability of safety equipment for bushwalkers. He emphasized that while creating a single physical memorial was not the goal, they aimed to establish a program that would permanently honor Lily by making personal locator beacons and safety information available for free.

The mayor also thanked emergency crews involved in the search and acknowledged the community's profound grief. Tributes left at Oakdale's Willis Park have been collected and will be passed to the Hooper family, with the memorial space remaining open to the community until further notice.