Small town has big heart

PORTARLINGTON’S big-hearted community has rallied to show support for the family of two-year-old Anna Greaney, who tragically died last week.

Anna Greaney drowned after falling off the Portarlington pier on Thursday.

Bellarine Ward Cr Trent Sullivan said the event had shaken Portarlington’s community and the tragedy was difficult to come to terms with. However, Cr Sullivan said “small towns have big hearts and ours is well and truly with all who have been affected”.

“Now is a time for us all to look after and be kind to ourselves, our loved ones and each other.”

Residents laid flowers, cards and toys at the pier in memory of Anna, who was the youngest of four children.

Anna’s mum, Billee Greaney posted a message of thanks to the community on Facebook.

“To the Portarlington community. I just want to say thank you. My husband and I have just been down to the pier and looked at your flowers and cards,” the post read.

“To the fishermen who frantically helped us search and the lady who looked after our other children at the beach, thank you. You will never truly know the impact you have made in our lives.

“We are shattered, we don’t understand and above all we wish we could turn back time and not go down to our beloved pier yesterday.

“Our arms will forever ache to hold her again.”

Billee’s sister Natassja set up a Go Fund Me page for the family to help with funeral and memorial expenses.

The community’s outpouring of generosity for the grief-stricken family exceeded the page’s initial target of $25,000, with donations reaching more than $32,000 when the Times went to print.

Natassja thanked the community for the financial support, and “words of love, comfort and prayers”.
To donate, visit the ‘Beautiful Anna has gone home to Jesus’ page at au.gofundme.com.