General News
18 October, 2023
Thousands raised for grieving family
THE community has thrown its support behind the young family of Terang’s Anthony Martin after his unexpected death last week.
THE community has thrown its support behind the young family of Terang’s Anthony Martin after his unexpected death last week.
Mr Martin, 30, died after suffering an acute medical emergency last Friday morning.
His sudden passing has left his partner Jenny Pitpit, 26, and 10-month-old daughter Purity reeling as they come to grips with life after the loss of the doting father who was known for his warm smile and care for others.
The family had been living above the Middle Hotel thanks to the generosity of the Crawley family to ensure they had a roof over their heads, and at times have relied on the Terang community to make ends meet as they adapted to life in Australia.
The couple originally met in South Australia three years ago, and had moved to Terang to pursue opportunities in the agricultural industry.
Julia Ogdin, who wanted to try and take some pressure off the family during their time of grief, has set up an online fundraiser through GoFundMe in a bid to offer support.
The fundraiser was quickly inundated with donations which will be used to send Mr Martin home to his native Vanuatu for a traditional burial with his family.
The process of repatriation of a deceased person provides a unique set of challenges at a time of unimaginable grief, as the process can be demanding and the associated costs can quickly rise to more than $10,000.
“This fundraiser is our opportunity as a community to rally around a young family at their most vulnerable,” Mrs Ogdin said.
“Navigating the process of repatriation is challenging at the best of times, but even more so when you have a young child and limited family support.
“Anthony's family are extremely appreciative of the efforts of the Terang community to bring their son home.
“Culturally, a burial in their village where family members can farewell Anthony traditionally would mean so much to them.”
At the time of publication, the fundraiser had surpassed $11,000.
Any funds raised beyond the cost of Mr Martin’s repatriation will be used to assist Ms Pitpit and Purity in finding independent accommodation.
Mrs Ogdin said the family had privately expressed appreciation for the generosity the community had displayed during such a difficult time.
“The Terang community is an extremely generous one, particularly in times of need,” she said.
“The community has rallied to support Jenny and Purity and have been overwhelmingly supportive of this cause.
“They understand the heartbreak that Jenny is in and have really stepped up to help to provide some certainty for their future.”
To support the family via the online fundraiser visit www.gofundme.com/f/s3vn7s-anthony or use the GoFundMe search feature to find the fundraiser titled “Anthony, Jenny and Purity”.
