Community organises fundraiser for surviving father and daughter of Tweed River tragedy

The tight-knight community of Tumbulgum has banded together to organise a fundraiser for father and daughter Matt and Chloe-May Kabealo, who lost the rest of their immediate family in a drowning tragedy.

It comes less than a week after the funeral of Balimba mother Stephanie King, 43, and children Ella Jane, 11, and Jacob, seven, who drowned when their car slid off a muddy road into the Tweed River on April 3.

Northern NSW had been inundated by flooding in the aftermath of Cyclone Debbie.

Chloe-May, eight, miraculously survived and managed to free herself from the car and run for help.

Superintendent Wayne Starling labelled Ms King a “hero” after she was found holding one of her children, appearing to be trying to get them out of the car.

“She would be alive today if she wasn’t trying to save her children… I have no doubt she’s a hero,” he said after the incident.

Local police from the Tweed Heads and Byron region have arranged a movie fundraiser and raffle this Sunday for the family.

Hoyts Tweed City has donated two cinemas at the shopping centre, while NRL and AFL clubs have donated signed jerseys for the cause.

Auctioned items include a signed Brisbane Lions AFL jersey and Sherrin football, a signed Brisbane Broncos jersey and five Tweed City Shopping centre vouchers among others.

READ MORE: Mourners farewell ‘hero’ mother and two children killed in Tweed River accident

READ MORE: Donations pour in for family of mum and kids killed in Tweed River crash

The fundraiser will be held on April 23. More information can be found here.