The mother of Cassius Turvey has thanked the community for their support, after hundreds of close friends and family gathered to farewell and celebrate the life of the Noongar-Yamatji boy.
The sound of rain pattering on the roof echoed through a heavy silence which filled the room.
The quiet was intermittently interrupted by the sound of cooing children – many who were too young to know Cassius, but no doubt will remember him through stories passed down.
The boy was carried in a coffin painted blue with the handprints of his mother, family and friends.
Cassius's uncles, aunties, sisters and brothers all shared their own memories of the boy and his "signature grin".
"Although your wings were ready, our hearts were not," Whudjak-Noongar traditional owner and close family friend Cheryll Kickett-Tucker said.
"We will never forget your cheeky smile, your never-ending laughter … Cassius, you are our warrior for our people."
A song titled Forever 15 featuring artists across the country and family messages was played.
"Forever in our memory, our family loves ya, young teacher," the lyrics sang.
"Dancing in the dreaming, forever 15."
'Miracle baby'
In a written tribute, Cassius's mother Mechelle Turvey – whose partner also died this year – described her son as a "smiling gentle giant".
Speaking late in the afternoon, Mrs Turvey grinned as she described how "everything was about Cassius".
"His cheekiness, his smile, his accomplishments, no matter what he got into, it was all there," she said.
"Everything was about family, friends, everyone was there in some way or form.
"I love all the strangers, all the smallest things, all the big things, everything, all the events, the vigils, the rallies, the small ones, big ones.
"Thank you so much [for] all the messages."
Mrs Turvey's sister, Robyn Collard, said the day was perfect.
"Today we'll just lay our baby to rest and tomorrow is the start of our healing as a family and how we walk through this," she said.
Ti'Shawn Collard said his friend Cassius would have loved the day, which included a wake featuring food trucks with the 15-year-old's favourite foods, a DJ and kids activities.
"He would love what we did for him, and what the world did for him," he said.
"How he's spread around, made everyone's life change kind of. He became famous like he always wanted to."
'Heartfelt thanks' to mourners
Cassius Turvey died on October 23, 10 days after being allegedly attacked while he was walking with friends after school.
The 15-year-old boy's death sparked an outpouring of grief and support from the local community in the north-east of Perth.
His name also spread far beyond Western Australia within days, with tributes being made in Canberra's parliament thousands of kilometres away.
Thousands attended rallies spanning the nation on November 2 in a national day of action in honour of Cassius.
More than $700,000 had been raised through donations for his mother.
Mrs Turvey said she intended to use the funds to set up a community initiative helping vulnerable and disadvantaged children.
"He'll be a leader and he has left behind an amazing legacy," she said.
"All his brother boys here, they know what they got to do now.
"They're not the followers no more, they are the leaders."
Indigenous artist Karla Hart said Cassius made friends easily.
"Cassius was so free, and lived in the moment," she said.
"He made friends so easily. He was just one of those special people that could light up a room."
People tuned in to the boy's funeral live-stream from across the country.
"A heartfelt thanks to all those that may be streaming in from around the country, and those even across other countries around the world that are watching and supporting us today," reverend Mark Kickett said.
