Heartbreak: Shantelle Murdoch recently died at home in Shepparton, leaving behind her five children, (from left) Erenah (11), Tiaki (13), Randolph (17), Moana (16) and Krystal (15). A GoFundMe appeal has been organised to help pay for her funeral and her children’s future.
A GoFundMe fundraiser has been launched for a Shepparton family of five children, whose mum recently passed away, leaving them with an unknown future.
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Deborah Fili has launched the page to raise funds to help the Murdoch children pay for their mother Shantelle’s funeral and to support the children, who range in ages from 11 to 17.
“Mum (Shantelle) always had a heart condition. She struggled with that and she had a heart attack at home with kids at home,” Mrs Fili said.
“So that left the five kids on their own trying to come up with funds.”
Mrs Fili said the children were facing the cost of a funeral in their mum’s home town north of Brisbane, and providing some certainty for their own futures.
“Two of the older siblings have gone to Queensland. Mum's been transferred to their home in Cherbourg,” Mrs Fili said.
Shantelle’s father, from Melbourne, has been helping to assist the children.
“Pop’s got the younger siblings, so they'll be heading there by car.
“They don't know what they're doing. They're hoping to be closer to Mum in Queensland, but they still need to sort that out with family.”
Willing to help: Deborah Fili, who has organised a GoFundMe campaign to raise money for the family of five children, says she just wants to help them in any way she can.
Photo by
Holly Daniel
Mrs Fili has worked with the children, who have mostly grown up in Shepparton, on a long-term basis, through her work with both the Greater Shepparton Lighthouse Project’s Haven youth space and the Greater Shepparton Secondary College.
“They're really good kids. Very shy, but they really try and get themselves out there,” she said.
“I just want to help these kids. They shouldn't have to worry about all this financial stuff, they’re too young for that and funerals.
“It's a massive thing and they cost a lot of money, especially having to travel, take all the kids up to Queensland to bury their mum.
“They shouldn't have to worry about any of the financial stuff at all.”
Mrs Fili said once the children got through the immediate concern of their mum’s funeral, they would then face a future without her.
“Even having to worry about that. They don't know what that looks like for them,” Mrs Fili said.
“I just want to support them in any way that I can.”
Challenges ahead: Murdoch siblings Erenah, Moana, Tiaki, Krystal and Randolph, from Shepparton, who recently lost their mum, Shantelle Murdoch, to a heart attack.
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