The playground at Cahill Park in Wolli Creek has been officially dedicated to the memory of 10-year-old Matilda Bee Britvan.
Bayside Council held a small ceremony at the park on Saturday 19 September, attended by Matilda’s family and friends, Council representatives and members of the NSW Government. A commemorative plaque was unveiled at the playground during the gathering.
Council said it consulted closely with Matilda’s family before the dedication. Her family shared that they had spent many happy times together at the Cahill Park playground and warmly supported the proposal to dedicate the space in her memory.
The dedication gives Matilda a lasting local tribute in a place used by children and families from Wolli Creek and surrounding suburbs. Cahill Park sits beside the Cooks River and includes sporting fields, a children’s playground, picnic areas and riverside paths.
Bayside Mayor Edward McDougall said the playground was a fitting place to remember Matilda’s kindness, joy and love of life. He said he hoped children using the playground would be inspired by those qualities.
The plaque and dedication were unveiled almost nine months after Matilda’s death at Bondi Beach in December 2025. Council’s announcement focused on her family’s connection to Cahill Park and their wish for the playground to remain a place associated with happy memories.
For local families, the playground remains open as a public community space. The dedication does not change its everyday use. Instead, the site now also carries Matilda’s name and commemorative plaque.
Residents who want to learn more about the dedication can read Bayside Council’s announcement through the source link on this page.