A Mount Richmond family have spoken for the first time about the devastating effect of losing a mother and daughter in a horror double fatality on Christmas Eve.
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Megan Grayling, 43, and her daughter Erynn Job (Grayling), 16, died when a Jeep Cherokee collided head on with their Holden Trax on the Portland-Nelson Road about 10.25am on Christmas Eve last year.
They were on their way to Portland to do the last of the Christmas food shopping. Erynn was driving on her L-plates and Megan was the supervising driver.
Erynn's 15-year-old partner Jacinta was in the rear passenger seat. She sustained life-threatening injuries and was airlifted to hospital.
Jacinta was released from the Royal Children's Hospital just in time to make it home for the funerals.
Megan was born in Millicent to Snow and Cheryl Gurney, and Erynn in Mount Gambier, South Australia.
The pair were mother and daughter but also best friends, joined at the hip.
They lived at a farm in Mount Richmond with their son and brother Jayden, Megan's beloved husband Lelent (Lee) Grayling and his son Callum.
Mr Grayling said he and his wife were both volunteers with the CFA.
He said he turned up to the accident as a volunteer and was having trouble coping since the tragedy.
He said he, Callum and Jayden were "really struggling with the sudden loss of both Megan and Erynn".
Mr Grayling said his wife was "the backbone of the family" however since the accident, he had formed a "very tight relationship" with the boys who were trying their best to support each other.
"We would like to thank everyone for their support, including friends, family and the CFA," he said.
The Gorae West Fire Brigade organised a community day to support the family following the horror crash.
Mr Grayling said it was "a very great success" and thanked the businesses around Portland, Heywood and other areas for their support, as well as those who turned up on the day.
He said money raised from the event was put in a trust fund for Jayden and Callum.
Victoria Police Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives last month charged a 51-year-old Tyrendarra man in relation to the fatal collision on December 24.
Police allege the man had illicit drugs methamphetamine and amphetamine in his system at the time of the collision.
He appeared in Warrnambool Magistrates Court on Thursday, unsuccessfully applied for bail and was remanded in custody.
The Gorae West Fire Brigade organised a community day to support the family following the horror crash.
Mr Grayling said it was "a very great success" and thanked the businesses around Portland, Heywood and other areas for their support, as well as those who turned up on the day.
He said money raised from the event was put in a trust fund for Jayden and Callum.
Victoria Police Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives last month charged the 51-year-old Tyrendarra man in relation to the fatal collision on December 24.
Police will allege the man had illicit drugs methamphetamine and amphetamine in his system at the time of the collision.
The man is expected to appear in court on Thursday to apply for bail.
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Jessica Howard
jessica.howard@warrnamboolstandard.com.au
jessica.howard@warrnamboolstandard.com.au
