Honouring Matilda: A Legacy of Light at Maccabi FC Caulfield

To our Maccabi FC family and friends,

For the past three years, you have seen our blue-banded bee flying through every corner of our club. We called it the "MaccaBee"—a symbol of our energy, our teamwork, and our community. But for all its vibrance, our bee was missing one vital thing: a name.

This past week, our hearts were shattered by the darkest chapter in Jewish Australian history. The senseless tragedy at Bondi Beach has left us mourning fifteen souls, among them a bright, beautiful 10-year-old girl named Matilda Bee Britvan.

In the wake of this unimaginable loss, Matilda’s mother asked the world to share a bee to honour her daughter’s memory using the hashtag #MatildaBee.

Maccabi FC Caulfield is humbled to join this movement. From this day forward, our club mascot will officially be named Matilda. Whether she is on our social media or watching over us at the Beehive in Caulfield Park, she will fly as a living tribute to a life taken far too soon.

In due course, and with the utmost sensitivity, we will be reaching out to Matilda’s family to share our decision with them. It is our deepest hope that knowing Matilda’s name lives on in the hearts of our young athletes brings even a small measure of comfort to those who loved her.

How You Can Help

We know many of you are looking for ways to support those left behind. A GoFundMe page has been established to support Matilda’s family during this harrowing time. We encourage those who can to donate in her memory:

Donate in Loving Memory of Matilda

A Community United

We mourn with every family affected by the events in Sydney. Our prayers are with those still recovering in hospitals, and our deepest gratitude goes to the NSW Police and first responders.

Though this Hanukkah began in darkness, we choose to honour the victims by being a source of light. We stand in unwavering solidarity with our brothers and sisters in NSW.

We would also like to acknowledge the dozens of messages of support that we have received from across the football world near and far. They are greatly appreciated.

We wish you all a safe, peaceful, and meaningful Hanukkah and festive season. May Matilda's memory be a blessing that inspires us all to fly a little higher.

With heavy hearts and hopeful spirits,

The Board and Staff of Maccabi FC Caulfield