The Sea Lake community has rallied to support the family of teenage crash victim Billy McClelland, a young man known for his “cheeky grin” and “wild boy ways”.
There has been an outpouring of emotion and generosity as tributes flow for the 16-year-old, who died in a motorcycle crash on December 29.
A GoFundMe fundraiser has raised more than $28,000 in just one week for Billy’s family.
The fundraiser’s organiser Brianna Ellis told The Guardian the Sea Lake community had been “absolutely devastated” by the tragedy.
“In small communities, things like this are everyone’s pain, but none more so than his family, of course.
“The community has just rallied around them. That is the beauty of when you live in a place like this, when tragedy strikes, a small town is the best place to be.
“The generosity of people has just been incredible, and in times like these it can be the only way that people know how to help, or to support.
“There’s really nothing else you can do, no amount of many will ever make this okay, but hopefully it can do something to ease things or the family.”
“The McClelland family are overwhelmed by the amount of love and support that they have been given.”
Sea Lake’s Tyrrell College described Billy as “a cherished student”.
“It is with heavy hearts that we extend our deepest condolences to Greg, Sonya, Courtney, Amy and Henry, along with their families, on the loss of their beloved son and brother, Billy.” the school wrote in a Facebook post.
“Our school community mourns with you during this difficult time, and Billy will be dearly missed by all who knew him.”
A passionate motorbike rider, Billy had been accepted for a school-based apprenticeship at Haeusler’s in Sea Lake and was also employed at the local Foodworks supermarket.
The supermarket said their team was “devastated at the tragic loss”.
When he wasn’t spending his weekends kicking up the dirt on his bike or getting into mischief, Billy was played for the Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers Under 17 side.
Mrs Ellis, who is the mother of one of Billy’s closest mates, Ethan, and said she would always remember Billy as “unapologetically himself”.
“You knew exactly where you stood with Billy, and I really loved that,” she said.
“He could get away with blue murder with me, because he would always show up here with a big smile.
“This has robbed Billy of just so much, but on the other side, Billy was the sort of kid to fit so much into his 16 years.
“He lived every day like every moment mattered, he wouldn’t hesitate to jump in and lend a hand and make us laugh.
“Every day was an adventure for him, he and my son would talk all night about the adventures they’d be getting up to the next day after having just got back home.
“He was always getting into a bit of strife, but it was always just little innocent things.
“Every memory that I have of Billy is just fun and hilarious and truly larger than life.”
Donations to Billy’s family can be made at www.gofundme.com/f/billy-mclelland
