Ross and Liz Noble have a unique insight into what the family of slain school teacher Stephanie Scott will be going through as the coming weeks bring her funeral and the police investigation, and the justice process takes it course.
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Their son, Chris Noble, came from the central western NSW town of Canowindra where Ms Scott grew up. And like Ms Scott, their son was also allegedly murdered.
Mr Noble, 27, died in September last year when Rozelle convenience store owner Adeel Khan allegedly set his store alight, causing a massive explosion.
"Obviously it resonates tremendously with us what Bob and Merrilyn and the Scott family are going through and our hearts and thoughts are with them, go to them, as they start the journey that unfortunately we started seven months ago," Ross Noble said outside the NSW Supreme Court on Thursday, where Mr Khan withdrew an application for bail.
"As you grow older you know you are going to lose loved ones, but never, ever your child," Mrs Noble said.
"The greatest moments in life will now be tinged with sadness as he is not here to share them with us."
Their comments came as Ms Scott's funeral arrangements were confirmed on Thursday.
The Leeton High School teacher will be farewelled at the same function centre in Eugowra, near Canowindra, where she was due to marry Aaron Leeson-Woolley last Saturday.
About 1000 people are expected to attend the funeral next Wednesday, said Reverend Jonno Williams of All Saints Anglican Church.
Ms Scott, 26, was allegedly murdered by school cleaner Vincent Stanford, 24, on Easter Sunday and her charred remains were found in bushland outside Leeton five days layer.
She had been at the high school on Easter Sunday preparing lesson plans to be used while she was on honeymoon in Tahiti.
Last Saturday, hundreds of residents from Leeton – a town of more than 6000 – gathered in Mountford Park for a memorial picnic, organised by Ms Scott's family.
Mrs Noble also paid tribute to her son, who sent her a text message saying "I love you" shortly after the enormous blast.
"Chris was an ordinary young Aussie bloke that it turns out was quite extraordinary," she said.
"The courage he displayed to send a message of love to us when he was surrounded by an inferno some eight minutes after the initial explosion has been an inspiration for us to live by and maybe something other people can use as an inspiration."
Mr Khan is accused of setting fire to his Darling Street shop to claim insurance money.
- with Lisa Visentin
Correction: An earlier version of this story said that the population of Leeton was 2000.
