Chilcott Family Fundraiser

This is my son, Luke, and this is his family's story.

My son has always been my hero, but on Anzac Day 2017 he and his wife, Tarn, became heroes for 4 children whose father ended his own life after taking the life of their mother. Please read Luke and Tarn's story and if you can see your way to helping them out, it would be greatly appreciated.
Julie D

We need to help and get behind this beautiful, loving caring family. They were also hit very hard with the tragedy that unfolded in the Chilcott's family home on Anzac Day 2017 here in Wangaratta. They never asked for help as the 4 Kids were the priority.  Now as friends of the Chilcott Family we are finding out about their struggles and the difficulties they have faced. 
We as a community need to get behind them and show them our support as they work towards their new family home. 
Please Help and Support the Chilcott Family!! 
Sandra & Mark Duffy

THE Wangaratta community is well aware of the tragic events of Anzac Day 2017 which led to four young children being orphaned and the formation of the 4 Kids and Carers Future Foundation.

Last weekend saw the handover to the family of a new five bedroom home which will go a large way in providing a more hopeful future for the children and their carers.

What most people do not realise is that those tragic events took place in a neighboring house, the home of Luke and Tarn Chilcott and their young children, and their lives will also never be the same again.

The entire family was in the home at the time and after the trauma that unfolded they were forced to move out and find alternative accommodation.

It took months staying at a local hotel before the family felt ready to move back into their home.

“We felt determined to move back in and carry on, after all, this was our family home,” Luke said.

“But on our first night back, the reality hit us that this would not be possible for us or our children so we went back to the hotel we had called home in the months after.

“The trauma of what happened that day was too much for us all and our eldest son was terrified something like that would happen again.”

They had no alternative but to sell their home and the financial impact that came with it in these circumstances set them back considerably. There is unfortunately no practical way for the family to recover their losses through victims of crime legislation or similar compensation avenues.

“The impact on our family, while it pales in comparison to the loss felt by others, was and remains to be significant,” Luke said.

“We originally refused several offers of fundraising immediately after the incident as we wanted everything to be focused on the four children not wanting to take anything away from them.”

Now 18 months after the event the family has agreed to accept assistance through a fundraising event organised by Dameon Holmes (Intermezzo Cafe) and Ben Watts (Sarrina Russo).

“It was the second time Dameon and Ben had approached us offering help and after being urged by many in the community we decided to gratefully accept their offer,” Luke said.

“We are very thankful to many in the community for their assistance and support to date.

“We'd like to especially thank some local businesses that have been exceptionally supportive in the past 18 months including Gary Nash Real Estate, One Mile Motors, Parkview Motor Inn, CWA Wangaratta, ACE Radio Network, 4 Kids and Carers Future Foundation, Rural City of Wangaratta, Goodman Chiropractic and Merri Health.

“Our thoughts will always be with the kids. We still feel a significant connection to them since that day when we all ran from our home together seeking safety and temporarily becoming their guardians through such a horrible time.”

“In this we are also so grateful to the 4 Kids and Carers Future Foundation and the army of volunteers who have seen the kids receive an amazing home to build new memories in.”

- Shane Douthie - Wangaratta Chronicle 12/10/2018