Feelings of disbelief and anger dominated last Friday as about 1000 people paid their final respects to Sheniz Erkan, who killed herself on January 9 after being bullied.

Allem Halkic, 17, the only son of Dina and Ali Halkic, a student at Bayside Secondary College, suicided in 2009 after being cyber-bullied.

"We would like to express our sympathy to the [Erkan] family and we know the hard road ahead of them," Mr Halkic said.

"We as a society need to be reminded of how fragile all children are and, no matter what background they are from, all children are vulnerable to this social network bullying.

"The government needs to take notice, and our fight since we lost our son Allem is to ensure that the law is exercised to its full potential to send a clear message that this will not be accepted in society. "The government needs to take charge and understand that hundreds of children are dying of this new cancer we call cyber-bullying. An example needs to be made of these cowards who hide behind screens."

Following their son's death, the Halkics initiated Australia's first criminal prosecution for cyber-bullying.

One of Sheniz's former teammates at Western Wolves Football Club, Diarna Cartwright, said she still could not believe what had happened.

"It is really upsetting and everyone is still in shock. She was always laughing and making others laugh."

Teammates from Sheniz's other club, Cairnlea, wore special shirts with her name and squad number on the back. Club president Atay Osman said Sheniz was destined to be a star player.

"She would have been one of the youngest players to play in the women's premier league and she was a special person."

Sheniz would have celebrated her 15th birthday today.

Former Brimbank mayor Natalie Suleyman attended the funeral and said more laws were needed to prevent school and online bullying. "We need stronger legislation so that bullying is made a crime and more innocent lives aren't lost."

Lifeline: 131114.