40+ PHOTOS: Sadie’s Day, birthday celebration at Cambooya State School
In defiance of heartache, an extraordinary Queensland town banded together to host an extraordinary birthday party to celebrate the life of a five-year-old girl whose chair at school now sits empty.
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A tiny chair where a special girl once sat in year 1 at a Darling Downs school is now empty.
The little girl’s name, Sadie, sits in her place and will remain there for the rest of the school year.
Once filled with light and promise, that empty space is now etched in the hearts of her family, school community, and the close knit town of Cambooya.
In defiance of adversity and weeks of heartache, the Toowoomba region town came together to celebrate Sadie’s birthday on the weekend less than a month after the five-year-old girl was tragically killed in car crash at Vale View.
Sadie’s aunty, Anthea Beveridge, said everyone who met Sadie instantly knew she was an exceptionally bright and cheeky little girl who was “just full of life”.
“She always had a massive smile on her face, was quite loud, and loved joking around,” she said.
“It’s nice to know although she only lived five short years, she really crammed a lot into those years and lived life how I think we all should and that’s with a smile on our faces and having fun.”
Mrs Beveridge said her family was touched by the endless support and generosity of the community.
“To know that we have so much support around here, it really hits home,” she said.
“We wouldn’t wish this situation on anyone but it’s lovely to know the community has just wrapped their arms around us and we really appreciate that.
“The last few weeks have been challenging so it’s nice to celebrate her life and birthday now that she’s a big six-year-old.
“This day has definitely been a reflection of the happiness she would have had and I can just imagine her running around here going crazy as well.
“She would have loved today.”
In the span of two weeks, the celebration grew from a barbecue at the town hall to a large community event, after countless businesses came forward to donate their services, time, and produce, from rides to produce and pig races.
“The way that it’s grown and seeing how many people have turned up, it’s beyond our expectations,” Mrs Beveridge said.
“Everyone has a smile on their face which is what today is all about.”
She said the day wouldn’t have come together without the enormous help of family friends Mandy Walker and Kelly Sutton who organised the fete and fundraiser.
Ms Sutton said the amount of support and donations received by local businesses was overwhelming, and although there was an air of sadness that couldn’t be helped, everyone came together with a smile to celebrate Sadie’s life.
“It really has rocked the whole community,” she said.
“That’s the biggest thing … is make sure to hug your loved ones. Because when it all happened you just grab your kids and give them a hug.”
Sadie’s prep teacher Marion Brown said she will forever cherish the memories of her former student as the brightest, kindest, and thoughtful little girl.
“She had the funniest sense of humour and would make everybody laugh,” she said.
“She cared for every single preppie, anyone who was there, so kind hearted and would always ask you ‘is there anything I can do to help?’
“She was a little bowerbird, she would collect things just so she could give it to you when you needed something.”
She said bright colours will always remind her of the “absolutely beautiful” little girl who had a voice like a rough diamond.
“We have special memorials in our rooms, we painted butterflies for her and hung them,” Mrs Brown said.
“I don’t need anything to remember her by, she will always be in our hearts.
“We will never let her be forgotten.”
Mrs Brown said the community will ensure Sadie’s family is never in want of anything.
“We can’t take away their pain, but we can take away some of their day to day sorrows,” she said.
The mother of Sadie’s school friends and former prep classmates, Sharron Francis, recalled getting the heartbreaking news of Sadie’s passing on Mother’s Day, and having to navigate the conversation with her daughters.
“(Ms Francis’ daughter) Lexi said, ‘that’s OK mum because Sadie will be up in heaven with nanny now and nan will look after her’,” she said through tears.
Ms Francis commended Cambooya State School for the support and counselling provided in the weeks after the tragedy and said it helped the children understand their friend wouldn’t be coming back to school.
“It’s been hard, it’s probably only sunk in for them this last week,” she said.
“What the teachers have done has been amazing, for the kids to go through such a thing at such a young age and to understand how precious life is, and the parents as well.
“There’s talk of doing a garden at the school and getting Sadie roses for it – I just burst into tears when I heard that, it’s just so beautiful.”
Sadie’s family wanted to extended their deepest gratitude and thank everyone who supported and attended Sadie’s Day at Cambooya State School on Saturday, June 7.
Photos from Sadie's Day Out:
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