Their grief was so physically debilitating that some were unable to walk without assistance.
Their cries rang out across Murray Street, Manoora – a suburb of Cairns where the eight children were killed. The youngest victim was two, the oldest was 14.
One man, believed to be the father of the youngest victims, was inconsolable. "My babies. My babies," he wailed as he spoke out their names.
A woman, equally distraught, yelled to the heavens. "My grandchildren, oh my grandchildren," she cried.
Just after 9am they came, in a united show of grief. Hours later, 37-year-old Mersane Warria faced a bedside hearing at the Cairns Base Hospital where she was charged with eight counts of murder.
Seven victims called her mum, one called her aunty.
About 100 members of the Cairns Torres Strait community walked en masse to the Manoora Park, adjacent to the home in which the eight children were slain some time on Thursday night or Friday morning.
The crowd stayed for about 10 minutes before walking back up Murray Street, physically leaving the horror of number 34 behind them.
About 100 metres along Murray Street, at a small community centre, the Salvation Army organised a memorial service.
The small hall was filled to capacity, as hymns were sung and prayers offered.
Pastor Rodney Minniecon, who had travelled from Brisbane to share in the mourning, said some good may yet come out of the tragedy.
"When I started to search my heart and sort out all this pain, why people are getting killed and why this happens, there's this tragedy and there's wars and wars and families are fighting one another ... even family bonds are broken," he said.
"A mother never has a child unless she goes through pain, before that birth comes.
"And sometimes it's through pain that a new creation begins, a new life. We are living in a time right now today in Cairns where something new is going to happen.
"Something like a bonding that's bringing people back together. The pain of seeing what's just happened can reunite and rekindle a fire within us that we do need one another."
Ben Mitchell, from the Church of Latter-Day Saints, said the Manoora community had a special place in all their hearts.
"This morning, we come together to try to find some understanding, some peace, comfort and even hope of how to get through this trying time," he said.
Pastor Ned Gabby told of a possible near-tragedy from within his own immediate family.
"I've tried to comprehend this tragedy that happened," he said.
"My brother rang me and said, 'you know, my daughter was going to sleep over that night and the mother said, no don't go — you can go and visit the family after Christmas'.
"I just can't imagine. But for those who are here at this time, you know the decision that was made that day ... your life is changed by decisions."
