The single vehicle crash took place on Chapel Rd on December 15, claiming four lives instantly and seriously injuring the five other occupants.
The injured and deceased belong to Shepparton’s African and Papua New Guinean communities who were working in the harvest sector.
The first GoFundMe has been set up by Jane Kanyonyi, a friend of one of the victims.
“I have lost a close friend that I knew as a sister and she was the sister that I never had in Australia,” she said.
“I'm fundraising to help all the families with funeral costs, medical expenses and everyday costs during this hard time.”
Ms Kanyonyi said survivors would need ongoing treatment, while other families were in the process of arranging funerals.
“Their carers and friends have taken time off of work to support the families, causing significant financial strain,” she said.
The fundraising goal is $60,000 (and had reached $9463 at noon on December 22) and Ms Kanyonyi said the money raised would be divided between the affected African families in Shepparton.
The second GoFundMe has been launched by The Goulburn Valley Papua New Guinea Association of Victoria and aims to raise $30,000 (it was at $8589 at noon on December 22), which is the estimated cost to repatriate the bodies of the Papua New Guinean 51-year-old woman and teenage boy killed in the crash.
The fundraiser’s description explains that in Papua New Guinean culture, returning a loved one to their ancestral home for burial is more than a tradition.
“It is a deeply spiritual and cultural responsibility,” it said.
“It is the essential way families and clans honour the deceased, allowing communities to mourn with dignity and find peace.”
International repatriation is a complex and costly process, which includes specialised preparation, documentation and transport from Melbourne to Papua New Guinea.
The GVPNGAV says it is raising funds on behalf of two Papua New Guinean families.
“The association’s relationship to the families is that of a community support body, co-ordinating assistance and managing fundraising with the families’ knowledge and consent,” the fundraiser said.
To donate to the fundraisers, visit the fundraising pages at gofundme.com/f/bring-our-loved-ones-home-after-the-muckatah-tragedy and gofundme.com/f/families-affected-by-the-muckatah-accident.
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