Hillcrest Primary School jumping castle tragedy: Tasmania, Australia reacts to gut-wrenching accident
Over $1.3m donated to a fundraiser launched by a local teenager for the families of Hillcrest will be rolled into a new public fund. WHAT IS MEANS + HOW TO DONATE >>
Tasmania
Don't miss out on the headlines from Tasmania. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Donations of more than $1.3m raised for the families of the Hillcrest Primary School tragedy will be rolled into a new public fund established by the Devonport Council and State Government to ensure there is oversight of the money raised.
The Hillcrest Community Public Fund will support the Hillcrest School community and family members of the victims.
“I know there’s some angst about what is going to happen to these funds and how they are going to be administered,” Cr Alison Jarmin said at Mondays council meeting.
“I think we need to do something about that and clear the air as quickly as possible.”
Cr Jarmin said the council would make sure the funds went to the right places, and wouldn’t get lost in bureaucracy.
“I know in the past when the fires happened on the mainland and there was a comedian that put a GoFundMe page up, she wanted the money to go to a certain, specific idea,” Cr Jarmin said.
“That didn’t happen because of the rulings.
“So I’m sure we’re very aware of all that and we’re going to try and do the right thing.
“We going to be making sure it goes to the right places and goes to the families and doesn’t get lost in governance and bureaucracy.”
The GoFundMe page was started by Devonport local Zoe Smith, who started the fundraiser to help the families affected.
The online fundraiser has raised over $1,378,000.
The Devonport Council has donated $30,000 to the fund and the state government has allocated $500,000 to provide immediate support to families affected.
$1.5m to kickstart funds for victims of school tragedy
A NEW fund has been established to help the families and school of the children killed and injured in Thursday’s jumping castle tragedy in Devonport, with more than $1m already raised for distribution.
The State Government has also put up $500,000 in a separate fund to provide counselling and other help to those impacted.
The Hillcrest Community Public Fund was opened with the proceeds from Zoe Smith’s massively successful GoFundMe campaign.
Members of the public can now also donate to the fund, which will be managed by a board including Miss Smith, representatives of the Devonport City Council and MyState.
“There has been an enormous outpouring of grief as well as support for those involved and one of the best ways to help directly is to donate to the fund,” Devonport Mayor Annette Rockliff said.
“People just want to do something and this fund gives them the opportunity to do that.”
Miss Smith said she had originally hoped to raise $1000 when she launched her online campaign. More than $1m has now been donated.
“People should be so proud of themselves,” she said.
“This has been a practical way people could help others who have lost so much.”
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Scott Morrison on a visit to Tasmania on Saturday announced $800,000 in funding for families and the community who had been affected by the tragedy, including for trauma counselling and other support.
Mr and Mrs Morrison visited Devonport on Saturday afternoon to pay their respects.
Premier Peter Gutwein said the PM and other state premiers had reached out to offer support following the tragedy.
“We have five families whose lives have been irreparably damaged and our thoughts must always be with them,” he said.
“Importantly, for the three children that remain in hospital, our hopes and prayers remain with them in terms of the challenges that they face.”
Cr Rockliff said there were also discussions taking place about what to do with the hundreds of bunches of flowers, teddy bears and other toys left outside the school in an ever-growing memorial to the children involved.
People wanting to donate to the fund can do so via online banking, using BSB 807009 and account number 30194756, or by visiting your local branch of MyState.
‘No words to describe how generous people have been’
THE creator of a fundraising page set up to support victims of the Hillcrest Primary School tragedy has been left lost for words by the community’s generosity.
As of about noon on Saturday, the GoFundMe page established by 18-year-old Devonport local Zoe Smith has passed $1.1m from more than 15,000 individual donations.
“It’s way beyond anything I can comprehend,’’ she said.
“It started off as $1000 to help them through Christmas a little bit, then it went up to $10,000 and it’s just gone completely crazy.
“There’s no words to describe how generous people have been, and it really shows the support of the community and how it wants to rally behind the families affected and the school community.”
Miss Smith visited the school on Friday morning where as floral tributes, teddies and messages of support grew throughout the day.
“The atmosphere was one of just such confusion of how to feel, and the horrid situation that these teachers and families and children are in,’’ she said.
“It’s just awful and it’s hard to put into words how people are feeling.
“The tributes and the vigil has just grown so massively today which is so beautiful to see, but such a sad thing for our community here in Devonport.”
Meanwhile, Premier Peter Gutwein has announced the setting up of a regional social recovery committee to help those affected by the tragedy.
Mr Gutwein said the committee was made up of representatives from government agencies as well as the Devonport City Council, and was considering what more could be done to assist.
“Support is already being provided to the families directly affected,’’ he said.
“We will do whatever we can for the families along with the students, staff, the broader community, and emergency services as well as our first responders who I know have also been deeply impacted.”
Mr Gutwein said first-stage funding of up to $500,000 would be provided, with more to be made available if needed.
‘We are all hurting’: Viral artwork captures Tassie’s heartbreak
After the news of the Hillcrest Primary School tragedy broke on Thursday, people around the globe have rallied around Tasmanians, flooding social media with a piece of artwork that captured the world’s collective heartbreak over the horrific school yard accident.
Victorian artist Sam Mizzi is the woman behind the design that many users have since displayed as their profile picture on Facebook - an illustration of Tasmania with a crack down it’s centre - a broken heart.
Ms Mizzi was inspired to create the tile after a close friend in Tasmania called her about the news in tears.
“She had an idea that I could create an image to do something to help people with their grief, something that would make the community come together,”
“It’s a symbol to show that we are all hurting and everyone is here to support one another,”
Since thousands have shared the image in tribute of the five young lives lost.
“I just can’t believe it, it’s amazing for people to come together after such a tragedy and with everything else that’s going on in the world at the moment we need to support each other.”
‘This is going to hurt for a long time’: Community left shattered
LITTLE Zavier and Caisen Furley are too young to really grasp the enormity of what has happened at their school.
But their grandma will keep a close eye on them and organise counselling if needed.
Zavier has just finished Grade 1 and his brother prep.
They were among hundreds of Hillcest Primary pupils to return to the school on Friday to lay flowers and toys in an ever-growing vigil to the five older pupils who died on the last day of school.
“It is really sad what happened to the bigger kids,” Zavier said. “We were going to have a go on the jumpy castle later.”
Grandma Maureen Furley said the horrible events of Thursday were among the worst to happen at a school she could think of in her living memory.
“I have no words. The community is in shock and I think worse feelings are to come as that wears off,’ she said.
“I doubt any parents will be letting their children on a jumping castle any time soon.
“I feel so sad for the Grade 5 children who have to come back to school next year after seeing what they saw.
“When I heard there had been an accident I looked at the roster and saw the Grade 1 and prep kids were not going in the festivities on the oval until later in the day. It was a feeling of relief but also guilt that others have to face what I feared.
“I kissed my grandkids goodbye and said have a wonderful day. I am grateful they are still here but so very, very sad for the other families. It is just inconcievable.”
Some of the 40 Grade 5 and 6 pupils on the Hillcrest Primary School oval when their classmates fell from an out-of-control jumping castle tried to help their friends after witnessing the tragedy.
Reverend Fiona Morrison said a handful of those children had attended a open-church session at Devonport Uniting Church and she has warned they will need extensive help to get over what they saw and the deaths that followed.
The class group were on the oval at about 10am on Thursday taking part in what was meant to be an end-of year celebration with the blow-up castle, zorb balls and other novelty activities.
A freak gust of wind then lifted the jumping castle from its footings and it flew 10m in the air with nine children falling to the ground.
Five children have now died, three more are critically injured in hospital and one has returned home to recover.
“Only two of those injured had not attended Hillcrest Primary since kindergarten,” Reverend Morrison said. “This is going to hurt for a long time.”
“Some of the children who came to the church with their parents on Thursday afternoon had seen the acccident and tried to help their classmates before emergency services arrived.
“This will hurt them for a very long time and parents and the community need to watch their children as the weeks go on and the reality of what they have seen sinks in.”
The flowers, teddy bears and other toys gathered at the Uniting Church will be taken to the steadily-growing vigil outside the school.
The floral and toy tribute to the children killed has been steadily growing as the Devonport community expresses its grief.
Some small businesses have also closed their doors because they are either personally impacted or showing respect to those they know are suffering indescribable pain.
Burly blokes in gardening utes, mums with babies, grandmas and classmates and school parents have been steadily arriving at the school to lay flowers, teddies and candles.
Five children — three boys and two girls — have now died from their injuries after falling from the castle as it flew more than 10m in the air after a gust of wind caused it to come off its footings.
Three more remain in critical condition in hospital while another is recovering at home.
“I brought a care bear along and hope the angels carry it to a place where there is only laughter and fun,” Sandra Maney, who has connections to the school, said.
“The poor other children who saw this happen. And the brothers and sisters of those killed, this will change their lives forever.”
Notes left with flowers showed the depth of the anguish being felt.
“Rest in peace angels. To all those affected by this great loss I am thinking of you and feel your pain. As a community we are all behind you.”
Elderly Launceston resident Roy Frith bought some flowers and made the drive to Devonport on Thursday to pay his respects.
However, the retired car salesman said it wasn’t a personal connection to the dead that lead him to the Hillcrest Primary School memorial but rather a profound sense of grief for people he’d never met.
“I have no connection at all other than the news that I read,” he said.
“I’ve never married, I‘ve never had kids but it just touched me so much I thought I’ drive and bring some flowers down.”
“I just feel for the parents and what they must be going though.
“I just can’t believe such a thing could happen.”
While the cloud of hurt and grief was tangible in the port city of Devonport on Thursday, Mr Frith believed the grief had spread to the entire state, if not the nation.
“I bought some flowers in Launceston and the lady said she’d done a donation,” he said.
Premier Peter Gutwein, Senator Jacqui Lambie, Devonport Mayor Annette Rockliff and Education Minister Jeremy Rockliff have all visited the scene and left flowers.
Mr Gutwein said the Tasmanian community continued to hope and pray for the children who remain in hospital.
“This tragedy is beyond comprehension. It is devastating that what should have been a celebration turned to tragedy. Overnight there has been an enormous outpouring of grief and support from across the state, the country and the world,” he said.
“I have come to understand just how connected this communty is. Many of the people I have spoken to have been impacted directly.
“As a parent I cannot understand how the parents who have lost children must be feeling.
I hope they can understand we are all feeling for them. I make a commitment we will stand with you.”
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has also promised the Tasmanian Government to supply any support needed.
Senator Lambie said as a mother she could only imagine the pain being felt by those who have lost their children — most of whom were ready to embark on the next stage of their lives after leaving Grde 6.
“My heart goes out to the parents, family friends, Hillcrest School community and first responders who have been affected. I can’t imagine how awful this is for you but I promise our community will rally around you.”
Fundraising figure escalates
As the devastated Devonport community was shaken to its core by the Hillcrest Primary School tragedy, 18-year-old local Zoe Smith could think only of the families.
While she had no known connection to any of the victims, Miss Smith sprung into action and launched a GoFundMe page to raise money for those impacted.
The incredible generosity of the Tasmanian community and nationally has been overwhelming, with more than $500,000 raised as of 10.30am Friday.
“The monetary value is in no way equal to what they’ve lost but it’s our way of supporting them,’’ she said.
Miss Smith, who grew up in Devonport and attended Nixon Street Primary School, said the community was in shock.
“It’s just very sombre,’’ she said.
“Everyone’s kind of confused as to how to act and to go about their actions.
“It’s such a sensitive topic, especially being schoolchildren there’s just so many more people involved.”
Miss Smith said the school and the community around it would be shaken.
“It’s going to take a lot for them to recover fully,’’ she said.
“We’ve seen up here in the northwest a few tragedies and deaths in schools, and it just shocks everyone and changes the atmosphere in schools.”
Miss Smith said the plan was to distribute the funds raised to the parents and friends committee of the school, to distribute to the families but also to purchase toys and books for the wider school community.
To donate, visit gofund.me/3b49945e
Governor shares condolences
Governor of Tasmania Barbara Baker has issued a statement following the Hillcrest Primary School jumping castle tragedy.
“I join with the Tasmanian community in feelings of great sorrow at the tragedy that has occurred at Hillcrest Primary School, Devonport,” Ms Baker said.
“Our thoughts are with those affected; immediate families, classmates and their parents, the School staff, first responders and the entire Devonport community.
“In a time of tragedy such as this our hearts are with the grieving family members and will remain so.
“The Office of the Governor of Tasmania stands by to provide whatever comfort we are able to in this profoundly sad time.”
Tasmania lights candles for lives lost
A North West family has asked Tasmanians to light five candles in tribute for the five lives lost in the tragic jumping castle accident in Devonport.
Sarah Kent took to Facebook to ask locals to place a candle in their driveway our on their footpaths in respect to “the Angels that have flown today”.
“We welcome anyone to join us in lighting a candle in respect to everyone involved in the tragedy that has unfolded today,” wrote Ms Kent.
Local church holds vigil for young lives lost
About 120 people gathered at the Devonport Church of Christ on Thursday night for a prayer vigil.
“We wanted to provide a space for people to gather and just to come and grieve and mourn,’’ church Pastor Blake Moore said.
“Devonport is such a small community, everyone knows someone who has been affected or has lost somebody.
“People were just in absolute horror and shock. It was just unbelievable that something of this magnitude, this tragedy could happen here in Devonport.
“The whole community just feels, in the lead up to Christmas, it feels like we’ve been punched in the guts.
“It’s going to be a very difficult Christmas for the people of Devonport.”
‘It was our turn next’: 9yo among shocked onlookers to tragedy
The tragedy that has unfolded at Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport has been described as a horrendous incident that will gut the community.
A parent of a nine-year-old pupil due to have his turn on the bouncy castle 45 minutes after the accident said she was Christmas shopping when she heard the news.
“It was our turn next,” her little boy says.
“Grade 5 and 6 went first.”
The mother, who said she only wanted to known as Tanya, said you heard of such tragedies on the news but you never expected it to hit so close to home.
“We all feel so heartbroken for the parents involved. And feel guilty that we are also relieved our children were not injured,” she said.
“The school had a jumping castle for school break up last year as well. You wouldn’t dream a fun activity day would end like this.”
Neighbour Bob Smith said he had come out in the veranda to see the jumping castle going up in the air.
“Then I saw kids on the ground,” he said.
“There was one really strong gust of wind on what is a beautiful calm day.
“At first we thought it might have been an emergency services training exercise then the reality of what was happening kicked in.”
Meanwhile, the incident has led to an outpouring of condolences and messages of support for the families of the children involved in the tragedy.
Tasmanian AFL legend Matthew Richardson, who is from Devonport, took to Twitter to share his disbelief at the tragedy.
“Big love for everyone in Devonport, just horrible news,’’ he tweeted.
The Devonport Strikers soccer club said on Twitter: “Hillcrest Primary School is just a few hundred metres from our club and no words can express our sorrow and emotions right now.”
Tasmania’s newest national sporting team, the JackJumpers, also tweeted: “All our thoughts and condolences are currently with the Hillcrest Primary School and the entire Devonport community at this tragic time.”
Australian Education Union Tasmanian president David Genford said there were no words that could do justice to the situation.
“Lots of kids will be held extra tight tonight,’’ he tweeted.
Big love for everyone in Devonport, just horrible news. â¤ï¸â¤ï¸â¤ï¸â¤ï¸
— Matthew Richardson (@mattricho0) December 16, 2021
Independent Member for Clark Kristie Johnston said the incident was “heartbreaking”.
“I’m sure I won’t be the only one who will hug their kids a little tighter at school pick up today …”
Labor leader Rebecca White said the horrific events at the school’s end of year celebrations were devastating for everyone concerned.
“There are few words to describe today’s horrific incident,” Ms White said.
“As a parent, it is hard to fathom the tragic loss of life of young children who were simply having fun on their last day of school.
“To see these happy activities turn to horror in the blink of an eye is just devastating for the children, their families and loved ones, for the school and wider community, and for the emergency services who attended the scene.
“My heartfelt sympathy to the families and loved ones of the children who have tragically lost their lives.
“My thoughts are also with the children who have been injured and their families, the school community and everyone affected by this terrible tragedy.”
Devastating scene in Tasmania’s north-west. Parents have been running to the school to collect their children after a major incident on the final day of the school year @abcnewspic.twitter.com/nJrrqlgGQS
— Monte Bovill (@MonteBovill) December 16, 2021
Senator Jacqui Lambie said it was “hard to find the words to describe how our Tassie community is feeling right now”.
“My heart goes out to the parents, family, friends, Hillcrest School community and first responders who have been affected by this today,” Ms Lambie said.
“I can’t imagine how awful this is for you, but I promise your community will rally around you.”
Greens Leader Cassy O’Connor said there “are no words to name the heartbreak”.
“When innocent children suffer, even more so.
“Today is such a day.
“On behalf of the Tasmanian Greens, I want to join the Premier and Leader of the Opposition in expressing our deepest sorrow over the tragedy at Hillcrest Primary School.
“We send love and strength to the families who have suffered unimaginable loss today, to the injured children, and grieving school community.
“Rosalie and I also want to thank first responders to the scene and acknowledge the trauma they too are suffering.”
Zoe Smith, a Devonport local, has set up a GoFundMe fundraiser to help “support the families throughout Christmas”.
“All funds will go to the families of the children who were tragically killed and injured to not only support them but provide them with much needed gifts in this time of such sadness,” Zoe wrote.
“Any donation is much appreciated and hopefully we as the incredible community of Devonport can rally to support such deserving and hurting people xx”
Man drowns after trying to rescue children swimming
A man has died after attempting to rescue young swimmers from a southern Tasmanian beach, with a police investigation underway. What police say happened.
Read more
Thousands of pictures of child abuse land man back in prison
He was jailed in the 90s for child sexual abuse offences, and now the same man is back in prison for his latest offending over three years. How long he will be in jail for.
Read more