Buying a Christmas tree this festive season can help a young Bendigo boy and his father in the wake of a terrible tragedy.
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Last December, Anthony West and his son, Oakley, lost their wife and mother, Jess, and son and little brother, five-year-old Deighton, after a truck crashed into their vehicle near Creswick.
Local business Rodilesa Plant Supplies is donating the proceeds from its sale of Christmas trees this year to Mr West and 10-year-old Oakley.
The money will go into a fund with Strathfieldsaye Primary School that Mr West can draw on to cover costs associated with Oakley's education, such as fees, excursions, uniforms and netbooks.
Mr West said the family was very grateful for the support.
"To be honest, it's overwhelming. From day dot it's been overwhelming," he said.
Mr West said the fund would be of "huge assistance", especially as costs became more expensive as Oakley got older.
Strathfieldsaye Primary School teacher, family friend and colleague of Mrs West, Danielle Nixon, said whatever was left over when Oakley finished primary school would be transferred to his high school.
The owners of Rodilesa know the Wests through sporting clubs.
Danielle Wells said she had received offers of donations from people who did not even want to purchase a tree - even from interstate - while Junortoun manager Mal Romeril said already they had received about 130 orders for trees.
Mrs Nixon said she, too, had been approached by people asking how they could contribute.
Anyone wishing to purchase a Christmas tree and contribute to the fundraiser can do so by contacting Rodilesa Plant Supplies through Facebook, by phone, or at their Junortoun, Kyneton or Castlemaine nurseries.
The trees will be available for pick-up on the evening of December 4, with members of the CFA - a previous recipient of Rodilesa's fundraising efforts - helping out on the night.
Mr West said the months that had passed since the loss of Mrs West and Deighton had had their ups and downs, but they simply had to keep going.
"Jess was a very positive person... from that, I've been trying to keep that positivity going forward," he said.
A truck driver has admitted to causing the crash that killed Mrs West and Deighton.
He will return to court in February.
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Natalie Croxon
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
Reporter at the Illawarra Mercury, mostly covering social affairs. Previously of the Bendigo Advertiser, Northern Daily Leader and Quirindi Advocate. Our Watch award winner.
