A BRAVE Bungaree teenager will raise her three younger siblings in a loving tribute to their mum.
Crystal Wallace, 18, has vowed to keep her sisters, Pearl, 15, Ruby, 13, and brother Bowie, eight, together as a family after their single mum Janis, 48, died suddenly in her sleep last Friday morning.
The University of Melbourne first year student, who is studying criminal justice and hopes to enter the police force, has pledged she will make her mum proud and give her siblings every chance in life.
But the family has a tough road ahead with little money, tomorrow's funeral to pay for and a dilapidated car, which broke down on the same day Janis died.
Pearl has cerebral palsy while Bowie has a heart condition, and the children need ongoing medical treatment.
The Bungaree community has begun rallying behind the much-loved family, organising an appeal, a fundraising night and a clearance sale.
Speaking from the lounge-room of friend Julia Webster's house, with her family surrounding her, Crystal yesterday said she had always been the "second parent" in the close-knit family, working two part-time jobs to help out
her mum.
And she said she would battle on in her mum's memory.
"I know it would have broken mum's heart to see the kids grow up apart," she said.
"It's just one of those things, you just get up and do it.
"I haven't even really stopped to think about it but it would make it a much more difficult hurdle if we were separated."
Crystal said the family, who had lived in a rented house, will consider renting a house in Ballarat to be closer to where the girls go to school at Ballarat Secondary College's East Campus.
Crystal is still unsure how she will manage financially and emotionally but she hopes to complete her university course.
"I was the first one in the family to go through VCE and go to uni," she said.
"She (Janis) was extremely proud. She was looking forward to me going into the police force.
"I have always wanted to go into the police force and make things better for other children, in the community area or domestic violence or maybe even homicide.
"It was always a dream but the kids are more important and I would like to make sure they have everything for their future."
Crystal said Janis had lived for her family.
"She was a very strong woman," she said.
"She had it very tough. She was always busy working hard for us, trying to get money and give us a better life.
"She was always there for everybody. She was the type of person that you could talk to and sometimes even without saying a word you would feel like she had helped you."
Ms Webster, whose son Luke is Crystal's boyfriend, said the Wallace family had been incredibly strong in the face of such devastating heartbreak but she said the past week had been extremely tough.
Ms Webster appealed for more community assistance to help the family, who need a reliable car and funds.
* The Brewery Tap Hotel will host a fundraising night featuring local musicians Noel and Tracy Craven on Saturday, July 9. All funds raised from the $10 cover charge will go to the family. A clearance sale will be held at Bungaree
Oval on Sunday, July 31. Anyone wanting to donate or sell goods can contact Ms Webster on 5334 0230. Meanwhile, appeal donations can be left at the Bungaree Store or contact Anne Wade on 5334 0239 or Ms Webster.