GoFundMe set up in support of Natasha Ryan’s family

The sister-in-law of Natasha Ryan, known to family and friends as Tash Black, is fundraising for funeral costs and counselling for the popular nurse’s children and husband in the wake of her tragic passing.

A GoFundMe page has been started for the family of Tash Black, who was formerly known as Natasha Ryan after her death in June.

Craft projects adorne the home of Tash Black, forever reminding her family of the woman they loved so dearly and what she loved to do.

She was a wife and mum, with a love of gardening and crafting, a nurse who provided care to help people in the community, a sister, a daughter, an auntie and much more.

Tash, 40, may have been known to many as ‘the girl in the cupboard’ but she didn’t let her past define her and neither did her family or the community.

Tracey Gaddes, the sister of Tash’s husband Scott Black, knew Tash for more than 20 years.

Tash Black with family members. Photo: Facebook.

“She was always a kind, caring person who would do anything for you,” she said.

“She was really creative and loved gardening, she loved her desert roses and succulents, she was really crafty.

“Scott mentioned she told him once that people who are in need of help don’t always ask for it, you just have to offer your help because they won’t necessarily reach out. That’s the kind of person she was she would just see a person in need and help.”

She said in the lead up to her death Tash had been struggling with her mental health and was admitted to hospital.

Natasha Ryan with her husband Scott Black with kids baby Astrid and son Corey. PICS FROM NEW IDEA MAGAZINE

Ms Gaddes said her death came as a shock to the family.

To help Tash’s husband and four children Tracey set up a GoFundMe as to help with costs associated with Tash’s funeral and the cost of living.

“They’re just taking it one day at a time and coping as best as they can, some days are worse than others,” she said.

“They’re all struggling emotionally and I just wanted to try and relieve some of the financial burden, there’s an almost $7000 funeral fund and Scott hadn’t returned to work for a while.

“I just thought if I can try and help financially to cover the funeral and then if we get any extra it might help with counselling just to help support them financially while they heal.”

A story published in New Idea magazine with Natasha Ryan, known by family and friends as Tash Black, husband Scott Black children Astrid and Corey. FROM NEW IDEA MAGAZINE

Tracey said the family had been comforted by all the support and kind words from the community.

Tracey said Tash tried everything while crafting, from painting to making earrings with resin.

“I also think she was so very smart because after all of her problems through her teenage years she went on to study and went on to become an RN, she did her Year 12 equivalency, she did her enrolled nursing and went on to uni and did her RNs and she had a very successful nursing career, she was loved by staff and patients.”

Natasha Ryan art

She also spent hours on end in her garden.

Tracey said Tash carried her love of craft and gardening through to her role as a mum, involving her kids and husband in her projects.

“When I was up there (at the house) just recently the children were saying ‘I made this with Mum’ or ‘I did this with Mum’ the craft is all around the house,” she said.

“To add to her crafts and love of the garden she would often drag Scott and the kids through bushland to collect pieces of nature for her craft.

“She just loved her children dearly, she just valued each one’s uniqueness... she just wanted them to reach their full potential.”

Rockhampton local Tash Black loved her life as a mum.

Tracey said she and Tash would call each other often to talk about gardening or nursing.

“I miss her everyday as a friend and sister-in-law,” she said.

“When she’d come down she’d always help pot my desert roses and when she and Scott would visit with the children they would do yard work and dug up the front garden and put in pavers... it was just her she just loved to be busy and feel like she was contributing.

“The beach was her happy place and I loved being at the beach too. I loved spending time with her and her children and my brother doing family things together.”

Donations can be made on the GoFundMe campaign page.

Tash captured the nation’s attention when she was found in April 2003 hiding in Scott’s cupboard five years after she disappeared and went on to speak to 60 Minutes about the ordeal which saw Rockhampton serial killer Leonard Fraser charged with her murder after he confessed to five murders.

Tash disappeared from the public spotlight and went on to study nursing before marrying Scott in September, 2008 and having four children together.

Tash was found at the Rockhampton Golf Course on June 2, the day after she had been reported missing by her husband Scott.

Police deemed it non-suspicious.

Originally published as GoFundMe set up in support of Natasha Ryan’s family