Hannah Clarke’s family and friends mourn ‘a beautiful soul’

The senseless violence that wiped out an entire family has reverberated to extended families in Australia and New Zealand.

Family and friends gather near the site where the car was set alight. Picture: Liam Kidston

The senseless violence that wiped out an entire family on Wednesday has reverberated to their extended families living in Australia and New Zealand.

The Brisbane-based family of Hannah Clarke, 31, who was killed with her three young children by her deranged estranged husband Rowan Baxter, have described their heartbreak at losing their “beautiful soul” and the children who “were her life”.

Baxter, 42, had been in a relationship with Ms Clarke since she was 19 years old and they were married in 2012. The New Zealand-born former top-level rugby league player had a son from a previous relationship and also had family living in Brisbane.

Hannah’s friend Lauren is comforted by her daughter, Mads, and son, Max, as they lay a floral tribute where the family was killed. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

Photos portray the extended Clarke family as close-knit and welcoming of Baxter, but that sentiment was forgotten on Thursday, with family members labelling him a “monster”.

Ms Clarke’s parents, Suzanne and Lloyd Clarke, with whom she was living in the Brisbane suburb of Camp Hill at the time she was killed, poured their money and energy into helping her flee her abusive and controlling partner.

Her brother, Nat Clarke, detailed the efforts his parents went to in helping his sister.

“My sister Hannah Clarke/Baxter always tried her best to bring joy to all those around her and only ever wanted the best for her kids,” Mr Clarke wrote on Facebook. “This was all from a great upbringing from my loving mother and father Suzanne Clarke and Lloyd Clarke. They, too, always do (their) best to help out others in need and have exhausted all (their) energy and money trying to help my sister and her kids escape this monster.”

His wife, Stacey Roberts, has started a Facebook fundraising page to help Ms Clarke’s parents cover funeral expenses for their daughter and grandchildren.

More than $100,000 had been raised by Thursday afternoon.

Ms Roberts labelled Baxter a “disgusting human being”, and paid tribute to her sister-in-law.

“All those who knew Hannah or even just met her once would know how much of a beautiful soul she was,” Ms Roberts said.

Her two eldest children attended nearby Belmont State School, where Ms Clarke was described by a Belmont mother, Kelli­anne Jones, as the “epitome of positivity and happiness”.

“We saw each other every morning at school drop-off. I had no idea what was going on for her. She always looked so happy and bright,” Ms Jones said.

“She was absolutely my favourite part of school drop-off.”