The Maryborough community is mourning the unexpected death of 12-year-old Luke Arthur Thompson, a Bidwill boy whose death has prompted an outpouring of grief from family, friends, school communities and other local residents.

Luke, affectionately known as “Lukey Dukey”, died unexpectedly on 6 September 2026. News of his death has deeply affected people across the Maryborough and Fraser Coast community, with more than 1,500 people responding to his funeral notice and numerous messages being shared in his memory.

Family and friends have remembered Luke as a thoughtful, kind and cheerful young person who had a strong impact on those around him. Messages shared following his death described him as someone with great potential and a personality that brought happiness to others.

Friends also remembered Luke for his sense of humour and his habit of sharing interesting “fun facts”. Those small memories have become particularly meaningful for people who knew him as the community comes to terms with his sudden passing.

Luke was loved by his parents, Andrew, Lisa and Carolee, as well as his siblings Jozefyne, Charlie, Aaliyah, Sophie, Wyatt, Alex, Hayden and Leo. His wider family, friends and school connections have also been sharing condolences and memories.

People who knew Luke through activities including dance have described him as calm, kind and endearing. Other parents in the community have spoken about the friendships he formed with other children and the sadness felt by those who expected to see him growing up.

The large response to the funeral notice demonstrates how widely Luke was known and how deeply his death has affected the local community. For a regional city such as Maryborough, the loss of a young member of the community can be felt particularly strongly through schools, sporting groups, families and social networks.

A funeral service to remember Luke will be held at St Mary's Catholic Church in Maryborough on Friday, 18 September, at 11am. Family, friends and members of the community will have an opportunity to gather and remember his life.

Luke's funeral notice describes him as a beloved nephew, cousin and friend and includes the heartfelt words “I Love You Most.”

The community's response has highlighted the lasting impression Luke made during his short life. While his unexpected death has left family and friends devastated, the messages being shared in his memory are also celebrating the qualities people valued most about him — kindness, warmth, humour and friendship.

For Maryborough, the coming days will be a time of remembrance as those who knew Luke come together to support his family and honour his memory.