Dead Cairns children remembered a year on

A community gathered to remember the horrific deaths of eight children in their Cairns home one year on from the killings.

A weekend of commemorations culminating in the planting of eight frangipani trees - one for each of the children aged between two and 14 - marked the first anniversary.

A Sunday service was attended by family of the victims, including fathers, aunties and uncles of the seven brothers and sisters and one cousin, along with more than 400 members of the community in Manoora.

"Every year at this time the trees will blossom and the children will be remembered with joy," said Red Cross regional manager Michael White, who has led a project to help the community heal from the terrible event.

"Following the outpouring of grief and support when the initial tragedy occurred, the community came together today in full circle to reconnect," Mr White said after the service.

"I think questions of why (this happened) will always be there.

"But now the shock has probably worn off and the healing process is beginning."

Raina Mersane Ina Thaiday, 38, the mother of seven of the children and aunt to the eighth, is facing eight counts of murder.