“She Wasn’t Afraid to Take Anything On”: Lily Hooper’s Family Makes Emotional Plea for a Lasting Tribute

The grieving father of teenage hiker Lily Hooper has made an emotional appeal to NSW Premier Chris Minns, asking for a special tribute to his beloved daughter.

Lily, 18, died while undertaking a solo bushwalk through the rugged wilderness of Nattai National Park, south-west of Sydney.

Back in Oakdale, where Lily grew up, her parents Jim and Kirrily and younger brother Charlie are struggling to comprehend a devastating loss.

“It’s just so sad that she’s gone. I feel blessed we had her in our lives for a time,” Jim said.

For her father, Lily was more than a daughter; she was a fearless young woman whose energy and determination seemed almost impossible to contain.

“She just loved the outdoors,” Jim recalled, describing her as clever, capable, adventurous, and never afraid to challenge herself.

Lily had developed strong outdoor skills from years of experience, and her family had encouraged her confidence while always carrying the inevitable worries of loving parents.

Her previous adventures had shown just how comfortable she was in the wilderness, including a demanding three-day hike through Mount Kosciuszko during Easter.

Even so, Jim admitted he had always worried whenever his daughter headed into the bush alone, knowing how unpredictable the Australian wilderness could be.

Ten days ago, Lily once again set off into Nattai National Park, beginning what her family believed would be another adventure.

But when darkness arrived and nobody heard from her, the family’s concern quickly turned into fear as the hours passed without any contact.

For eight long days and nights, Lily’s loved ones and an enormous search effort waited desperately for news of the missing teenager.

Then came one of the most heartbreaking moments of the ordeal, when the family was mistakenly told that Lily had been found alive.

The communication error brought a brief wave of hope before the devastating reality eventually became clear: Lily had not survived.

Despite the unimaginable pain, Jim has insisted that he does not blame police, the police commissioner, or the NSW Premier for what happened.

Asked whether he was angry, the grieving father gave an unexpectedly compassionate response, saying he was “not in any way angry” with authorities.

Instead, the family wants Lily’s story to become something that continues beyond the tragedy, particularly as an encouragement to other young women.

Jim hopes his daughter’s adventurous spirit will inspire girls to embrace the outdoors, develop confidence, and experience life with the same courage she displayed.

“She will leave a legacy, I hope, for girls, young girls, you know, to get out and about and enjoy life like she did,” he said.

Now, Jim has made one personal request to NSW Premier Chris Minns: that Lily’s life be formally honoured with a special public tribute.

His heartfelt plea is simple—to have the Australian flag lowered to half-mast in Lily’s honour, marking the life of a young woman who touched her family deeply.

“If Chris Minns could organise probably to get the flag put at half-mast for her,” Jim said, explaining that it would be a meaningful tribute.

For the Hooper family, the gesture would not erase their grief, but it would acknowledge the extraordinary young woman Lily was and the legacy they believe she can leave.

Lily’s family is still waiting for the coroner to establish precisely how and when the teenager died during her journey through the national park.

Those unanswered questions will remain painful for the family, but they are determined that uncertainty will not overshadow the life Lily lived.

Instead, they are preparing to give their daughter a farewell worthy of her personality—a celebration filled with energy, love, memories, and perhaps even rock-star glamour.

Lily had dreamed of becoming famous like a movie star, according to her father, imagining a future in which people would know her name.

Tragically, she became widely known for a reason nobody in her family ever wanted, after the search for her captured the attention of the wider public.

“She wanted to be famous as a movie star,” Jim said, reflecting on his daughter’s dream with a mixture of sadness and affection.

“She became famous, not for the right reason, but yeah, so she got that wish,” he added, finding a bittersweet moment of humour amid unimaginable grief.

For Jim and Kirrily, however, Lily will never simply be remembered as the teenager whose disappearance made headlines across Australia.

She will remain their adventurous daughter, Charlie’s sister, a young woman who loved nature and refused to live cautiously simply because the world could be frightening.

Her story now carries a message her family hopes will outlast the headlines: that young women should be encouraged to explore, learn, dream, and live boldly.

Lily’s life was tragically short, but her family hopes her fearless spirit will continue encouraging others to step outside, discover the world, and embrace life.

And as her loved ones prepare to say goodbye, they are determined to celebrate not only how Lily died, but everything she was while she lived.

A daughter who was fearless. A sister who dreamed big. A young woman who loved the outdoors—and a free spirit her family will never forget.