$141k+ raised for beloved McGregor-Shaw family recovering from serious Top End crash

A well-known Top End sporting family have been showered with donations from community, after a horror Australia Day crash left a mother-of-three in a coma and her husband and sons injured.

Stirling, Mary-Lou, Charles, Willard and George McGregor-Shaw.

In the space of a moment a Top End family’s Australia Day fishing trip turned into a tragedy.

Charles and Mary-Lou McGregor-Shaw, as well as two of their three sons, Stirling, 16 and Willard, 11, were headed east along the Arnhem Highway for a family fishing trip at Shady Camp when an oncoming car hit them head-on about 30km from the Stuart Highway turn-off – in the middle of a monsoonal downpour.

More than a month on, Mary-Lou – an avid Katherine Cowboys supporter – remains in a coma, while Charles, Stirling and Willard are still on the road to recovery from their injuries.

And just 24 hours after a funding campaign was launched by Jo Brosnan to help support the McGregor-Shaw family, the community has raised an astounding more than $141k for the family.

After the crash, the two boys were said to have been initially unaware of their serious injuries and fought to help their parents – who were both critically injured.

NT Emergency Services freed the family, as well the driver of the other vehicle, while the Arnhem Hwy was closed to traffic near Window on the Wetlands for several hours.

The five injured were taken to the Royal Darwin Hospital, before they were stable enough to be flown to Perth for specialist care.

Mary-Lou, George, Willard and Stirling McGregor-Shaw on a weekend fishing trip.

Charles had suffered multiple broken bones, including spinal injuries to his neck and back, while Mary-Lou was placed in a coma after trauma to her head turned into a severe brain injury.

Both underwent lifesaving surgeries in the first 24 hours following the incident.

Meanwhile, Willard suffered a torn bowel and Stirling had surgery for a broken leg and shoulder.

The family’s middle child, George, had been on holiday interstate at the time of the crash, and flew home to stay with his grandparents after the incident.

The community has shown their support for the “typically Territorian” much-loved family who moved to Darwin from Katherine for their boys’ high school years.

Charles and Mary-Lou McGregor-Shaw were involved in a serious crash on the Arnhem Highway.

On the page Ms Brosnan said the “community spirited family” were fishing enthusiasts who had been in the middle of developing their dream property on a 20-acre block.

“They are passionate about family, rugby league, fishing, motorbikes, chooks, vegetable gardens, dogs and friends,” she said.

“But they are most notable for the time they give to volunteering at sports, school, and fundraisers.

“Mary-Lou’s a former CWA champion, volunteer breastfeeding counsellor, a footy team manager (and) Chuck’s been the footy club medic, and both support the coaches in any way they can.

“Charles crews (and trains crew members for) Care Flight’s rescue helicopters, he helps save lives daily, caring for people in their most vulnerable moments of fear and trauma.”

Stirling, George and Willard McGregor-Shaw have all played league and union for their local rural Darwin footy teams.

But in light of the tragic circumstances, financial aid was needed for the boys’ grandparents Maureen and Bill O’Keefe, who relocated from Katherine to Perth to care for the three boys.

“Financial support is needed to support the boys’ grandparents, Maureen and Bill O’Keeffe, who are covering the expenses of caring for three teenage boys while their parents are incapacitated,” Ms Brosnan said.

“Family members are pitching in to make sure Charles and Mary-Lou’s bills are paid, and their Darwin home and their pets are cared for.”

NRL Northern Territory showed their support for the cause, saying the “true community rugby league family” were well loved for their time spent volunteering.

Katherine Rugby League also called for supporter aid for the family that had given so much to the sport over the years.

“Charles and Mary-Lou’s family need our help, if you can help in any way, please do,” their Facebook post read.

“The McGregor-Shaw family are one to help out at many of times and have been volunteers in our club in the canteen, setting up and packing up just to name a few.”

The GoFundMe can be found at https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-support-the-magregorshaw-boys