The three young sisters orphaned after their parents took their own lives in separate tragedies two years apart have been blown away by the kindness shown to them.
Aerobics Oz Style TV star and advertorial host Erin Jayne Plummer took her own life in 2022, and husband Alan died in November last year after his own mental health struggles.
Australians have now opened their hearts and wallets for their heartbroken daughters, aged 18, 15 and 10, with friends, family and strangers offering their support to a crowdfunding campaign.
The double tragedies have seen eldest daughter Elani, who has only just completed her HSC, appointed the guardian of her younger sisters.
The middle sibling, 15, is now living interstate during school term time after securing a sporting scholarship, but the youngest sister is now Elani’s full-time responsibility.
A GoFundMe started by a family friend to ease the financial burden facing the girls after Mr Plummer’s death is now close to raising almost $50,000 for the family.
‘Now, as they face a future without both parents, we, their community, are coming together to provide the support and stability they need,’ the appeal said.
The friend said the money would be going towards ‘the resources to move forward, help with education, emotional support, and a secure foundation.’
A GoFundMe appeal for the Plummer daughters has almost reached the $50,000 target. Mr Plummer is pictured with his three daughters
Elani Plummer had just turned 18 when he father took his own life and says she will take on parental responsibility of her sisters for him
Elani Plummer explained how her father had tried to let her continue her childhood after losing his wife, ‘when everyone else looked at me as a mother’. Erin Jayne and Alan Plummer are pictured on their wedding day
After the appeal reached $41,385 of its $50,000 target last month, the family friend posted an emotional update to the fundraising page.
‘To all, a huge thank you for your generosity,’ it added.
‘It’s incredible to see so many people come to the aid of three beautiful girls and help support them as they look to define their futures.
‘I know they are all thankful and amazed by the generosity you have all shown.
‘The sheer support is testament to how many have shown a willingness to stand up and support those who need help in times like this.’
Elani paid tribute to the support they had received during a eulogy at father’s funeral at Macquarie Park Cemetery and Crematorium in December.
But she also admitted the future was daunting without either of her parents to help and guide her now.
‘I firstly wanted to say a massive thank you to the families who have taken us three girls under their wings the past three weeks,’ she told mourners.
‘We love you guys so much.
‘Nothing that our family has been through in the last two years could have prepared me for losing my best friend.’
Since Mr Plummer’s death his daughters have been embraced by close friends of their parents who have thrown loving arms around the siblings and taken them into their homes
The three young daughters of television presenter Erin Jayne Plummer have said a final goodbye to their late father, two years after their mother took her own life. Eldest daughter Elani is pictured far right
She said the tragic loss had been made even harder because of the close bond she shared with her dad.
‘He let me feel like a kid when everyone else looked at me as a mother, or a guardian to my sisters,’ she said.
‘And I wish that I didn’t have to give that sense of freedom and childhood up but ultimately he’s the one and only person I would give it up for.’
Mr Plummer was found dead in Freshwater on the city’s northern beaches on November 10 after failing to meet a friend for a morning swim.
The friend rang police to request a welfare check and officers arrived at the Plummer family home in the same suburb to inform Elani her father was missing.
His body was found an hour later by a lifeguard at the foot of a cliff at Freshwater beach.
Mr Plummer’s death came two months after he sold the family’s Freshwater home, which he and Erin bought in 2002.
Elani was out celebrating a friend’s 18th birthday the night before her father’s body was found.
Ms Plummer, who was a beloved TV presenter on Today Extra and Studio 10, also battled her mental health before her body was found at the base of Manly cliff.
Friends said Erin had stopped being her ‘bouncy, energetic self’ in the weeks before her suicide. ‘I wish we had found her a way through,’ one said.
Colleagues at Studio 10 said they would miss her ‘sunshine’ in the studio and that the channel ‘lost a bit of its sparkle’.
In addition to her television career, Erin was an accomplished synchronised swimmer who represented Australia at three world championships and won 11 national titles.
But it was her TV advertorial roles for which Erin was best-known.
Over the years, she spruiked everything from massage chairs and workout programs to slimming jeans and steam mops.
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