The heartbroken family of one of the children killed in Tasmania's jumping castle disaster say there are no words for the grief of losing a "fun-loving kid".
Clinging to his school shirt, PlayStation controller and pillow, Zane Mellor's mother and grandfather remembered the determined 12-year-old in front of the growing floral shrine outside of Hillcrest Primary School.
Zane's mother, Georgina Gardam, told 9News they are grappling with their loss.
"I just needed to say goodbye to my baby," Georgina Gardam said.
"I needed to see what everyone had done, I appreciate it so much."
Ms Gardam said Zane was a "gamer extraordinaire" and admitted Christmas will be hard this year.
"I have all of his Christmas presents. We've opened some of them and just sat them up for him," she said.
"I over-spoiled him but I'm glad I did."
Richard Gardam said his grandson was an animal lover.
"I'm missing him terribly," he said
"He was a fun-loving kid, he loved animals, he was just a gem of a boy."
Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones' mother, Rhianna Goodson, visited the tribute with a photo of the two of them.
It was one of Jalailah's prized possessions.
"She'd sleep with it every night," Ms Goodson said.
"She's one of a kind," she said.
"She was a beautiful, young, unique girl."
Scott Morrison announced today $800,000 would go towards support for families and communities affected and provide counselling support.
Australia has also rallied behind the Devonport community with an online fundraising page raising more than $1 million for the families.
"We will reach out our arms and we'll throw them around the community of Devonport, and Australia will throw their arms around Tasmania as they seek to console for what has been an unthinkable time," Mr Morrison said.
The money will be paid to Tasmania's primary health network over an 18 month period.
Additional trauma counselling, training for emergency services in trauma, informed care, and psychological first aid will all benefit from the financial assistance.
Mr Morrison said $100,000 will go towards support for schools returning in 2022 along with training and counselling for teachers and staff.
"We know support won't just be needed in the next few weeks, it will be needed for many, many, many months, to try and begin that process of healing," Mr Morrison said.
Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein thanked the prime minister for the funding to support the community after the tragedy.
"To the families of the five children who passed away, you know, words can't express the sympathy that I feel, that Tasmanians feel, the outpouring of sympathy right across this country," he said.
Police yesterday identified the five children who died in the jumping castle tragedy.
Zane Mellor, Jye Sheehan, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones, Peter Dodt, all aged 12, and 11-year-old Addison Stewart all died in the accident in Devonport on Thursday.
There were close to 40 grade five and six students taking part in the end-of-term activities at Hillcrest Primary School when the accident occurred.
Tasmania Police Commissioner Darren Hine said "the majority of those injured were in the jumping castle" when it was lifted by the gust of wind.
Three children are still fighting for their lives at the Royal Hobart Hospital, and one child was this morning discharged from hospital to recover at home.
Hundreds of floral tributes have been left at the school as the community mourns the children's deaths.
Readers seeking support can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or beyond blue on 1300 22 4636.
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2021-12-18 06:45:31Z
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