A fundraiser for the family of three young girls allegedly murdered by their mother in Timaru has passed $20,000 in just two days.
Graham Dickason, his wife Lauren and three young girls - Liane, six, and two-year-old twins Maya and Karla - moved to Timaru earlier this month after leaving South Africa and spending time in a quarantine facility.
However, their New Zealand adventure became a tragedy when the three girls were killed at their Timaru property last Thursday. Lauren is accused of murdering her daughters and has been remanded to a secure mental health unit until her next court appearance in October.
A Givealittle page set up on Thursday by a group of South Africans living in Timaru for Graham and his family on Saturday passed $20,000.
"In supporting the Dickason family mainly towards funeral expenses, travel and accommodation costs for family members," the fundraiser says. "In expressed love and sympathy from the community towards Graham Dickason, the father of the three girls.
"In loving memory of twin sisters Maya and Karla, aged 2 and Liane, aged 6 who died in Timaru, New Zealand on 16 September 2021."
Hundreds turned out on Thursday night for a candlelight vigil to remember the three youngsters. Reverend Alan Cummins, who is helping to support Graham, read out a letter from the father, in which he said losing his "three previous angels" was a "loss that I will carry with me for the rest of my life".
He asked for prayers, including for his wife Lauren "as I honestly believe that she is a victim of this tragedy as well". The father said he had forgiven her and asked others to do the same.
It's reported a family member of Graham's arrived in New Zealand from South Africa earlier this week.
Those who knew the Dickasons before they left for New Zealand last week expressed shock at the deaths.
"I cannot comprehend what happened. She is a medical doctor and she wasn't arrogant or anything like that. She was very humble," one former colleague and neighbour said of Lauren.
"They waited years for those children because she had troubles with fertility and stuff, so it really is a big shock."
Another neighbour said the parents "adored those children".
