A deeply moving illustration from a Sunshine Coast artist has resonated with thousands of people across the globe in the wake of Friday's terror attack in Christchurch.
Caloundra resident Kassi Isaac's picture of a weeping koala holding a distraught kiwi has been widely shared on the internet as a poignant symbol of Australian solidarity with New Zealand.
The former Sunshine Coast Council graphic designer said she was inspired to put pen to paper to express her grief and send love across the Tasman as she watched the horrific event unfold.
"I was at home eating lunch and turned on the news and when I saw what was happening I thought this couldn't be real," Kassi said.
"I grabbed my daughter's colouring book and did a sketch, I was trying to put down what I was feeling because as an illustrator that's what I do.
"When my five-year-old daughter came home and saw the picture she was very upset and wanted to know why the kiwi and koala were crying.
"I explained that Mummy drew it in response to something really bad happening in New Zealand, so she grabbed a red pen and drew a little heart to add some love."
That night Kassi struggled to sleep, unable to stop thinking about the awful events that had unfolded.
"I wanted to help but all I could really do was to send my love and condolences so I did that by uploading the image to Instagram that night."
The next day Kassi's powerful picture was reposted by major news outlets and celebrities.
"Jessica Rowe shared the image, then Mia Freedman and her Mamamia Network page and I began to receive lots of lovely messages from people around the world," Kassi said.
"Someone in Los Angeles messaged me to say they had seen it on the news there, I've had people from London contact me, the response has been overwhelming.
"It's still very raw and recent but I'm so happy I could contribute something of love amongst something so terrible.
"I have lots of friends who are from New Zealand and it's a country much like our own, it is so surreal that something like that could happen."
