Tasmanian community farewells Zane Mellor, one of six school jumping castle victims

More than 350 people farewelled Zane Mellor, 12, in a moving service one week after a horrific incident left six children dead.

Zane Mellor died in a jumping castle tragedy in Devonport last week. Picture: Supplied

Mourners have gathered in Tasmania to farewell one of six children killed in a tragic jumping castle accident.

12-year-old Zane Mellor was farewelled by over 350 family and friends in the moving service one week after a horrific incident where a gust of wind lifted a jumping castle and zorb balls up to 10 meters into the air.

On Thursday those closest to Zane spoke of his love of gaming, dinosaurs, camping and fishing at Mersey Gardens Chapel and Crematorium in Devonport.

His blue coffin was topped with sunflowers and decorated on the side with the PlayStation logo and controllers.

A PlayStation sat on the top, and a poster of popular game Red Dead Redemption – one of his many favourites – hung from the side.

Zane’s mother Georgie Gardam, who wore a Jurassic Park T-shirt in honour of her dinosaur-loving son, spoke of her “man of the house”.

Georgie Gardam (centre) is comforted during at the funeral of her son Zane Mellor at the Mersey Gardens Chapel and Crematorium, in Devonport, Tasmania. Image: AAP/Bianca De Marchi

“I was so young when I had you, only 15. But now I know why. You grew up with me. You held my hands and kissed my face in all the hard times. You were my man of the house always; my protector, my strength, my gamer” she said.

“I spoiled you. I was told not to, but oh god, I spoiled you rotten, and I have no regrets. Hawaiian pizza, maltesers, quarter-pounder burger with no pickles, no mustard, no onion were some of your favourites.

Ms Garam spoke about Zane’s extensive knowledge of dinosaurs and how he was very “particular” if someone else was wrong about the topic he knew everything about.

“The past year he’d grown into a man that finally grew his wings.

“No matter what the weather, we’re together. I love you Zaney,” she sobbed.

Others spoke about his love for animals, especially his support dog Peanut.

Zane Mellor with his dog Peanut. Picture: Supplied

“He was the chicken whisperer, the cat whisperer, and his support dog Peanut the dachshund was very loved,” officiator Tracey Bruce said.

“His nan told me he’d snuggle up with Pepsi the cat on the bed.

“Zane was kind, loving and caring to his little brothers and sisters until they got to around the age of five, then it turned into your typical sibling love-hate relationship,” she said.

“As a young boy he liked to head off on adventures and exploring with his dad. His pop also told me that Zane had a fascination with hammering nails and cutting wood with a handsaw.

“He was intrigued about building and Zane may have followed this path as he got older.”

Zane’s classmates and teachers shared messages.

“I loved your personality, every day you would put a smile on my face,” one school friend wrote.

Messages were also read from some of Zane’s online friends – many who lived across the world – but he never had the chance to meet in person.

“Zane was a funny man, he would always do dinosaur sounds, that’s why his name was Jurassic,” one said.

His aunt Jessie described him as “kind, strong and fierce”.

“He lived life to the fullest and wasn’t afraid to show the world who he really was,” she said.

A funeral was held for 12-year-old Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones on Wednesday.

Memorials for four other students – 11-year-old Addison Stewart, and 12-year-olds Chace Harrison, Jye Sheehan and Peter Dodt – will be held in the coming days.

Two children, who were previously in intensive care, remain in hospital. They are in a stable condition.

Investigators are still looking into the incident, with specialist officers from NSW flying in to assist with interviewing the many young witnesses.

All inflatable equipment has been banned from school sites by Tasmania’s Education Department.