Support the Smith family after their tragic loss

On Friday 6th October, 2023, we tragically lost Raphael, Evita and Philomena, and their beloved Poppy, Peter, in a light aircraft crash. This loss will reverberate through the lives of Elise, David, Eamon and Reuben, and Therese, Peter’s wife and the children’s grandmother. The Nally and Smith extended families are forever changed by having known these wonderful people, little and big.

The joy they brought to our lives cannot be undone. They were wildly imaginative, clever, fun and compassionate. After spending Thursday 5th October at the zoo, the kids spent the evening engaged in an hours-long game of make-believe, saving animals from poachers inside an elaborate lounge room cubby.

All three were passionate Penrith Panthers supporters, and raised the roof on their Armidale home on Sunday night watching their team’s miraculous win!

Raphael, Evita and Philomena loved to read, create works of art and play sport, to help out their adored Mum and Dad, and play with their little brothers and cousins. They were happy kids who knew, every day, how much they were loved.

This fundraising is being coordinated to help the family with the costs inevitable over the coming months, and to allow them time together to find strength as they forge a path so completely unexpected.

Dave and Elise appreciate the love and care and generosity of you all, but remain, as all who know them will attest, humble in their needs. They have suggested, as an alternative, that you might prefer to donate in the children’s names to a charity aligned with their lives - some that come to mind are:

Free the Bears (https://freethebears.org/)

The Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation (https://alnf.org/)

Little Wings (https://www.littlewings.org.au/)

Alternatively, buy a loved one a book and read it with them, go for a play in the park or a swim, visit a zoo, hug your kids tight, and say a little prayer for us all.

Written by Elisabeth Viney, sister of David and aunt of Raphael, Evita, and Philomena.

This fundraiser is being administered by Dr Kristin Boyle, a family friend, in consultation with the Smith family.