Funeral for Corio fire victims Isaac, Saige and Ashlynn

The devastated parents of three children killed in a Corio shed fire have said their final goodbye at a funeral held in Highton today.

The three young children tragically killed in a Corio shed fire have been remembered as “little angels” as they were laid to rest in front of distraught family and friends.

Around 100 people gathered at Tuckers Chapel in Highton on Thursday morning to celebrate the all-too-short lives of four-year-old Isaac, three-year-old Saige, and one-year-old Ashlynn McGregor.

They are survived by six-year-old older sister Mavis, who suffered serious injuries in the October 22 blaze.

Among the tears and unimaginable sadness, a black and yellow theme was present throughout thanks to the family’s love of the Richmond Football Club.

The Tigers donated Indigenous guernseys that were draped over each of the coffins.

The club offered its condolences to the extended McGregor family and wished Mavis a speedy recovery.

Uncle Anthony McGregor was the only family member who spoke at the 40-minute service.

He recalled the children relentlessly “ganging up” on him and told mourners how Ashlynn loved food.

The kids’ mother Jasmine Beck, right, carries one of the coffins. Picture: Alison Wynd

“Ashlynn had just realised how funny it was to not listen to me,” he told the crowd.

“She knew she was my angel and that she could do no wrong.

“Now I stand here and think back on how mad I would get about them all picking fights and I am thankful that I have those memories.

The funeral of Isaac, Ashlynn and Saige who were killed by a shed fire in Corio. Picture: Alison Wynd

“And my heart breaks more and more realising I won’t have them there to fill the silence.

“I love you Isaac, Ashlynn and Saige, please watch over your sister in the coming months.”

The children’s nana, Tabatha, wrote a poem, called I wish, that was read by funeral celebrant Mark Carey.

Uncle Anthony McGregor of Isaac, Ashlynn and Saige who were killed in a shed fire in Corio, speaks at their funeral. Picture: Alison Wynd

Mr Carey also read a message from family friends Belinda and Daina.

“It is right and natural that we should grieve because sorrow is a reflection and measure of our love – the happiness and intimacy we shared with these children,” it said.

“In a way, we grieve for ourselves because we know that our lives will never be the same without them.”

The service concluded with a touching photo tribute.

Mr Carey said the music accompanying the montage represented each child.

For Isaac it was Sunflowers by Post Malone, for Ashlynn it was Cover Me In Sunshine by Pink, and for Saige it was Never Not Remember You by Cooper Alan.

While the photo tribute played out, friends and family hugged one another, and even laughed when they saw pictures of the girls together.

After the photo tribute concluded, Kane McGregor, the father of the children, led the coffins out into the funeral procession while Dancing in the Sky played in the background.

Each was placed into a separate hearse.

The emotions were too much for some, as one man wept uncontrollably while carrying the coffin to the cars.

Attendees were asked to send “positive vibes” to Mavis, who remains in the Royal Children’s Hospital.

The funeral service was followed by a private burial and a wake at the Norlane Hotel.

A GoFundMe page raised $67,275 for the family, which will help pay for Mavis’s medical bills.

The fire started in a garden shed on the morning of October 22, trapping the four children.

The exact cause of the fire has not been made public.

I wish – by ‘Nan Tabatha’

I wish I could hear you playing once again

I wish I could hear ‘I love you Nan’ to help ease the pain

I wish you would knock on the door so I could talk to you

I wish I could kiss and hug you like I used to do

I wish I had more time to teach you a thing or two

All the little things

I wish I’d done this to help with the afterlife brings

I wish I could be with you to keep you safe from harm

I wish I could stop crying and just stay calm

I wish that this was all a dream and none of it was real

I wish I could travel back in time so the pain we wouldn’t feel

I wish you all the peace and love, but most of all

I wish I could be with you because we would have a ball

I wish you would pop out from your hiding spot and say

‘Hey nana, we’ve been hiding from you all this time, do you want to play?’

Yet I count to 10 as much a I like

But I won’t find you anyway.

Originally published as Funeral for Corio fire victims Isaac, Saige and Ashlynn