Tributes for Jackson Stacker as family pleads for help to bring son’s body home

The mother of a young man whose body was found on farmland says she is “humbled and overwhelmed” by the support her family has received from the Northern Rivers and Melbourne communities.

Victorian man Jackson Stacker with his mother, Sandey MacFarlane.

Family members of 25-year old man Jackson Stacker, whose body was found near a highway rest area in NSW’s Northern Rivers, say getting him back to Victoria is proving to be a nightmare.

His mum Sandey MacFarlane, of Bayside, has made a public plea for help getting her boy back to Melbourne as her family struggles with the loss of their “beautiful son, brother, grandson, cousin, nephew and friend”.

“This is our, and any parents’ worst nightmare, further complicated by Covid, restrictions, physical and police and forensics,” Ms MacFarlane said.

Friends of Jackson Stacker (inset) have left flowers at the Sleepy Hollow's rest area on the Pacific Highway after his body was found nearby on August 25, 2021. Picture: Javier Encalada

She thanked the Northern Rivers community for their support.

“His father and I feel humbled and overwhelmed by the support we have received from the beautiful Northern Rivers, an area I know was my son’s favourite place, and from our Melbourne community,” she said.

“Jackson was a pure and beautiful, free spirit; a dedicated animal and nature lover; a short part of his unfinished story.

“We can only hope his passing was serene, in keeping with his love of the peace, people and nature, he sought out in his short life.”

She said she saw her son in April.

“He was travelling around, up and down the coast, but was on the Northern Rivers for about six months,” she said.

“Last Christmas we gave him the van and he went on his travel to the Byron area.

“He loves music festivals, he’s really sweet, and he had a job in an electrical business.”

She said her family wanted to take his body home “to tuck him in safely for his eternal sleep near his mum and dad, brothers and extended family”.

“We know Jackson was trying to get home to Melbourne, but border restrictions proved this impossible,” she said.

A GoFundMe campaign to fund Mr Stacker’s trip home had raised more than $26,000 by midday on Monday after only two days online.

“(Donations) will help us with a burial plot, headstone, funeral service, coffin, celebrant, streaming of the service to family and friends who cannot to attend due to Covid,” the campaign page reads.

Before his body was found, printed posters had been placed in public areas and online posts had been circulated on Northern NSW social media forums about the missing man.

Police are investigating the cause of Mr Stacker’s death and a report will be prepared for the coroner.