I knew Eurydice Dixon only a little, but she genuinely made a big and bold impression on me. She was intelligent, uniquely funny, and so thoroughly decent. Eurydice was raped and murdered earlier this week on her way home from a comedy gig.
She had spent the evening making people laugh and think, and then she was brutalised and killed.
Eurydice was a regular on the alternative comedy scene in Melbourne when I first met her a couple of years ago, at the then-home of free comedy, Station 59 in Richmond.
On stage that night, she told a funny story about not having enough money to take her luggage on a flight home to Melbourne from Adelaide, but having enough to put her things in a luggage locker at Adelaide Airport. It was typical of the ‘do what I can now and figure out the rest later’ attitude that I’m now learning was a big part of how she made her way in this world.
Eurydice’s set made me laugh. She also impressed me with her resilience on stage – she held strong when some parts didn’t generate the laugh she was working for, and she pushed through it to find the next funny bit, and the one after that. It was seven or eight minutes of impressive storytelling and opinion, laced with intelligence and wit and honesty. All things I still was trying to do and figure out, and Eurydice had them covered. In spades.
A little while after her set, I told Eurydice I liked her story and style. She gave a brief and appreciative smile, and said thank you. I got a friend request from her on Facebook later that night and didn’t think much of it, as most comedians connect with each other pretty freely.
A month or so later we were both at Station 59 again and as I made my way through the room, I heard a quiet, ‘Hello new friend’ and turned to see Eurydice with a little smile, and gave her a quick wave. We had a brief chat later on that night among a group of comedians, and all shared encouragement with each other before heading our separate ways.
In the two years since then, I saw Eurydice at comedy gigs and she always had a little smile and wave for people she knew. That friendliness and support is one of the real gems of the comedy community; certainly among peers at similar levels of experience and ‘time served’, anyway. It’s camaraderie and friendship and special.
I hadn’t seen Eurydice since late last year, and she was one of the people whose shows I wish I’d gone to see at this year’s Melbourne Comedy Festival. Mutual friends told me she did brilliantly in her show, and as part of the group that performed under the ‘Free Comedy’ banner at Highlander Bar, had enjoyed sell-out shows and great audience reviews.
I didn’t know Eurydice was only 22… her intelligence and humour made her seem older, wiser. I didn’t know her age until yesterday, and it only reinforced her wonderful talent and the promising future ahead of her. Wiser and more seasoned people than me all said she had something unique and would go on to do (more) amazing things.
There are so many things a lot of people are feeling and thinking about the persistent violence of men towards women. Those conversations and debates need to happen until men recognise the ingrained gender oppression that is part of community attitudes and behaviours. Men, we can’t deny this or stick our head in the sand. It’s not a matter of opinion; it’s fact. And we all need to work on changing this.
Eurydice Dixon was an intelligent young woman who sought to find her place in this world while challenging convention and bringing light and laughter to the people around her. She had so much more to share with us, and we are poorer for not being able to receive it from her any more.
Thank you for being who you were, Eurydice. I’m sorry this world failed you xx
Funds are being raised to support Eurydice’s family. You can donate here if you’d like to.
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