Sarah Elsworth: Ulladulla businesses rally behind family following fatal Princes Hwy crash

A pregnant mother has been identified as the victim of a fatal crash on the Princes Hwy on the state’s south coast, as the community rally behind the young family left in shock.

Sarah Elsworth (right) was killed in a car crash south of Nowra on Monday.

A pregnant mother from Ulladulla has been identified as the victim of a fatal crash on the Princes Hwy, near Jerrawangala, as small businesses rally behind the young family left in shock.

Sarah Elsworth, 23, was driving on Monday morning when her car collided with a truck. She died at the scene.

The death has rattled the coastal Shoalhaven town, with community members and businesses coming together to support Sarah’s partner Marc and their one-year-old daughter.

Ulladulla barbershop YFBFB owner Tom Woodward announced he would donate all money earned on Friday to his friend Marc to support him and his family.

“It’s the very least thing I can do,” Mr Woodward said. “We put the post up on social media advertising we were going to donate today’s sales to the family and we have been absolutely swamped with people wanting to support Marc and his daughter.”

YFBFB owner Tom Woodward and friend of Marc Elsworth said he would be donating all of Friday's profits to the family.

Mr Woodward said from 7am Friday there was a line of 20 patrons out the door wanting to help.

“It’s just unbelievable seeing so many people wanting to help a local family going through hell,” he said. “Marc is a great friend of mine, I won a rugby grand final with him not long ago. I just want to help him through this.

“The whole family are just great people and it makes me so sick and sad thinking this has happened to them.

“Sarah really was one of the nicest people you would have ever met, the whole family is.”

The whole Elsworth family are also a big part of the Milton Ulladulla Bulldogs rugby league club, with club secretary Sally Stewart saying the club has plans to give back to the family.

“Marc is a big part of our club and does so much for us,” she said.

The game day will be in memory of Sarah, raising money for her young family.

This Sunday, all proceeds from gate entries at Mollymook Oval will be going to the Elsworth family. Gates open at 9am.

“We are also going to have a donation bucket going around at the game and there will be big balloons with Sarah’s name,” Ms Stewart said. “It’s going to be an emotional day, but we as a club want to remember her.”

Ulladulla-based disability support business, Remmy, also decided to help the young family who were friends with the business.

Remmy director Annette Haramis said she pitched the idea to donate staff bonuses to the family.

“There was no hesitation to the idea, everyone wanted to do it,” she said. “Once a month, we pick two employees to give $200 bonuses, but we are going to give this months to Marc and the family.”

Ms Haramis remembered Sarah as a kind of loving member of the community.

“She was friendly to our employees and a great young person,” she said.

Along with the $400 being donated, Ms Haramis has also pitched in her own $200 as well as other staff who have donated some of their own money.

“I think all in all, we’re giving the family a little over $1000,” she said. “We know that won’t bring Sarah back, but at least it might make this beautiful family’s life a little easier during this just absolutely awful time.”

The gestures from both businesses were not lost on Sarah’s father-in-law Gaz Elsworth, who called the gestures “kind”.

“Thank you all for your thoughts,” he posted on social media.