ORANGE has reached out to the devastated Averkin family and, in a genuine show of compassion, has in just a few days raised $30,000 to pay for the funerals of three family members killed in a head-on crash near Toowoomba last week.
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Residents responded to a crowdfunding campaign and Saturday’s Central Western Daily front page story with incredible generosity, which the Averkin family say has been a humbling experience.
John Averkin, 81, his wife Luba, 76, and their son Paul, 46, were on a family holiday when the tragedy occurred.
Yesterday the family could not hold back the tears when they were handed $10,000 by transport company owner Ron Finemore while he was visiting the Orange depot yesterday.
“I’m speechless - words cannot express how we feel,” said Olivia Averkin, who is married to John and Luba’s son Michael.
Mr Finemore said he had been contacted by one of his senior staff in Orange following the CWD story.
“At the same time my daughter said she had seen it on Facebook and had already pledged money, suggesting I might like to do the same,” Mr Finemore said.
However, the size of the donation towards the funeral overwhelmed family and friends as they embraced and shook hands with Mr Finemore.
“We are a part of this community and that is what a good community does - people help each other out,” Mr Finemore said.
Shortly after family and friends paused and held each other as they marked 11.30am - the time when the Averkins were killed in the crash last Tuesday.
However, despite their grief the family say now sufficient money has been donated to cover funeral costs, they want to do what they can to help the family of the truck driver involved in the crash.
“From all the evidence the police say he did everything possible to try and avoid the accident, and we feel for him and his suffering,” Michael Averkin said.
“We just want him and his family to know we are thinking of him and his family and want to help,” said Natalie Daugherty, who organised the community campaign.
“Our hearts go out to him.”
Mrs Daugherty shut down the online fundraising on Monday at 5pm.
“I did it as soon as we could see how incredibly generous people were and all that money had been donated,” she said.
She said as the “gofundme” website could not accept large donations like Mr Finemore’s, it would be given to the Church of Christ who will hand the money on to the family.
After hearing the news on Friday Orange mayor John Davis put forward a mayoral minute for the city to donate $5000 towards funeral costs.
The Averkin family said they would like to extend their heartfelt thanks to all those people who have showed compassion and generosity during this difficult time in their lives.
The funerals of John, Luba and Paul Averkin will be held on Monday, November 30 at the Slavic Pentecostal Church, 33 Kearneys Drive, at 10am.
janice.harris@fairfaxmedia.com.au
