The mother of one Hillcrest victim vents her frustrations on social media

The mother of one of the six children killed in the Hillcrest Primary jumping castle tragedy says Devonport City Council “cannot, and will not” use her son’s death as a payday for the local community.

THE MOTHER of one of the six children killed in the Hillcrest Primary School jumping castle tragedy has pleaded for the administer of a massive fund raised to support the families impacted to “do the right thing”.

Georgie Gardam, the mother of Zane Mellor, took to social media at the weekend saying the community had donated so generously to the multimillion-dollar GoFundMe campaign because they believed he money would go directly to the families of the children taken.

The campaign was originally organised by local woman Zoe Smith but taken over by the Devonport City Council when it became too much for Ms Smith to handle on her own.

Ms Gardam also claims she was not advised by the school that her child had been killed on December 16 last year.

Instead, she said she only found out Zane was one of the children injured or killed when she went to the school’s oval.

The mother of Zane Mellor Georgie Gardam visits the Hillcrest Primary School. Picture: Grant Viney

“Almost all parents were told our children were not involved and all parents had been notified if their children were involved. This was a lie,” she said.

“No roll call was done and no-one knew where Zane was.”

Ms Gardam said her plea for the funds raised to be distributed in line with public expectations was not about money.

“This is about the state having a moral compass and as we feel the community would never have donated so kindly if they knew the funds weren’t coming to those directly affected,” she said.

“We honestly feel used by the Devonport City Council’s actions.

“You cannot, and will not, use my son’s death as a payday for the local community when we are the one’s suffering.”

The council put out a fact sheet earlier this month detailing how money from the Hillcrest community public fund would be distributed after concerns from the ­community.

The GoFundMe for the Hillcrest Primary School jumping castle tragedy will be donated in its entirety to the families of the children, Devonport Mayor Annette Rockliff said.

“The release of the GoFundMe money has taken much longer than anticipated and is being delayed by some very complex legal issues, which are being managed by the state government and legal representatives of the funds initiator, to ensure all the money is distributed fairly to the families impacted,” she said.

“We understand the community is worried that the money raised hasn’t yet gone to the families, but it will, and this is not negotiable.”

The state established the fund following consultation with MyState Bank and the Devonport City Council, with more money anticipated to be injected into the pool.

“Money raised as part of the AFL tribute match between Hawthorn and Richmond to be played in Devonport [on March 5] will be added to the Hillcrest community public fund,” Ms Rockliff said.

“The Hillcrest community public fund distribution committee will decide how these funds are distributed fairly and equitably and where they are needed to best support the community.”

She said none of the money would fund the council or state government.

But Ms Gardam said after contacting the council, state government and Hillcrest recovery team she was concerned all funds would not go to the families directly affected.

“This will go to the Hillcrest community and local community which is not us families – this includes the football match in honour of our children,” she said,

“The GoFundMe will come to us families eventually, we hope.

“As far as we are aware, none of the monies raised from the football match will come to anyone directly affected.”

The council has been contacted for further comment on the issue.