In Loving Memory of Melanie Harris
11th November 1976 - 19th March 2006
Melanie died from SADS (Sudden Adult Death Syndrome) at 29 leaving five children from ten to eighteen months and a Husband that has now given up work to care for his children full time.
He has very limited financial resources.
A trust with six members has been created to raise enough funds to help Daniel raise and educate his children.
Three members are family and the other trustees are local business people and a lawyer.
Melanie was a big vivacious woman who had a huge presence.
You could hear her laugh from three kilometres away ( slight exaggeration).
There was 1200 plus people at her funeral and the procession drove around the Huonville round about twice because this is what Melanie did to really annoy everybody to the delight of her children.
That was Melanie.
The children and parents and grand parents painted her coffin when they displayed her beautiful body in the new house that she was four weeks off moving into when she died on the 19th of March.
To view pictures from the photo gallery please click here.
It is the trust's intention once we have raised $300k to continue raising funds to support other families in similar situations around Australia.
Hopefully Melanie's name will be associated with helping single parent families for many years to come.
UPDATES:
The Melanie Harris Memorial Trust has teamed with Sublime Accessories to represent the spirit of Melanie Harris and create The Happiness Dom.
“The Dom laptop sleeve” raises funds for a family in need.
Sublime Accessories will be donating $5 from the sale of each Happiness Dom
Click Here for more details on the Fundraiser
Scrapbook Emporium have a unit on display in their store on Port Road in Adelaide, South Australia, all proceeds will be donated to the 'Melanie Harris Memorial Trust'.
Click Here for more details on the Fundraiser
"Tremendous response to the Sunrise segment on Friday the 4th of August. Over 70,000 hits on this web site the day of the screening and the day after. Many offers of support and help and over $5000 donated"
Click Here to view the Sunrise Video.
Click Here to view A Current Affair Video
That's Life can now be read in the media section.
26th July - Thats Llife Magazine will be featuring a story 3-4 pages on Daniel, the children and Melanie.
MELANIE HARRIS MEMORIAL TRUST
Extract from Hansard - Tasmanian Parliament
Mr WILL HODGMAN (Franklin - Leader of the Opposition)
On 19 March this year Melanie Harris, a young woman from the Huon Valley, died suddenly, leaving behind a husband and five young children aged between 18 months and 10 years: Breeanna, 10; Jordan, 8; Bronte, 6; Joel and Bella.
This tragic and premature loss has had a considerable impact on the local community, with more than 1 200 people attending Melanie's funeral. Melanie's husband, Daniel Harris, now carries the responsibility of raising his children with little financial support. Daniel has left his employment to look after his young family, and the financial burden of having a new house to finish off building and a big mortgage to pay is just adding to his loss.
As a result, a group of generous and compassionate people have formed a trust to raise money for the purpose of raising and educating the children. The Melanie Harris Memorial Trust has already raised a considerable amount and has arranged various fundraising events, including a concert at Homehill Winery this coming weekend on 18 June.
It is hoped that ultimately a $100 000 will be raised by the trust.
"Now, whilst I appreciate that many personal tragedies do occur and are worthy of support, I raise this matter in parliament as I was personally saddened by the tragic story of Melanie and her family, who reside in my electorate. I was moved by the effort and the commitment of those who have banded together to support Daniel and the children. I would certainly urge anyone to provide whatever assistance and support they can - including corporate entities - to the Melanie Harris Trust".