THE mum and cousin of a Wickford backpacker murdered in New Zealand have been made OBEs.

Grace Millane, 22, of Wickford was tragically murdered by Jesse Kempson, 28, in December 2018 while backpacking in New Zealand.

Her mum Gillian Millane and cousin Hannah O’Callaghan set up a handbag appeal, Love Grace, in 2019, donating handbags with essential items for women affected by domestic violence.

Gillian and Hannah were named on the King’s New Years Honours list for their efforts and appointed Officers of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).

Speaking to BBC Essex, Gillian said: “Grace was a lovely family orientated girl, if she was your friend she was a friend for life.

“She was my best friend and always wanted to travel. She had such a bright future and it was taken away from her and us.

“I’m never going to see grace in a wedding dress I’m never going to have grandchildren from her this is a life sentence I’ve got.”

Love Grace worked with women’s refuge Changing Pathways to create a list of items that would be suitable for their clients.

They had an initial target of 50 bags but this has been surpassed through generous donations.

The group has launched appeals around the world in New Zealand, USA, Canada and Singapore.

This has resulted in thousands of women receiving a Love Grace handbag.

Gillian added: “We started off with 50 to 150 bags, we’re now at something like 15,600 bags.

“I think in the past five years I’ve become more resilient, I’ve not gotten over it I’ll never get over it.

“I know that I’ve just got to make the world a better place and make sure no other family has to go through what we went through and what we go through, that’s got to be a good thing.”

Gillian climbed Mount Kilimanjaro last December and placed stones with the names of Grace and her husband David, who died of cancer in 2020.

Love Grace has more appeals planned for the new year and hopes to continue helping women worldwide.

For more information and to donate visit lovegrace.co.uk/.