On Thursday morning, 27 March 2025, tragedy struck the Filipino-Australian community in Werribee.
Czarina Gatbonton Tumaliuan, a devoted mother of four, was killed in the backyard of her home shortly after seeing her children off to school. The incident has left her family and community heartbroken, and her four young children now face life without the love and care of their mother.
For a full account of the incident, including court proceedings and community reactions, readers can visit the original report: Mother of Four Found Dead in Werribee.
Known as “Toots” to those close to her, Ms Tumaliuan was described as a joyful, hardworking woman who balanced parenting, business, and faith. On social media, she referred to herself as a “working mum, business woman, foodie and adventurer.” Her children, she said, were her “treasure, pride, joy and inspiration.”
A Community Response
In the wake of her tragic death, a GoFundMe campaign was launched by her church community to support the children she left behind. The fundraiser aims to provide for their immediate and long-term needs, including:
- Day-to-day living expenses
- Schooling and educational needs
- Medical and emotional support
- Basic essentials and stable care arrangements
“Our prayer is that these children will not have to bear the weight of financial hardship in the days, months, and even years ahead. They’ve had far too much to bear already,” the campaign states.
As of 1 April 2025, the campaign has raised more than AUD 17,266 from over 230 donors.
Donations Welcome
The campaign continues to call on the public for support, whether through donations or by sharing the fundraiser to reach more people. Organisers hope that the generosity of the community will help the children continue the life their mother had worked so hard to build for them.
For more information or to contribute, visit the official fundraising page:
👉 gofundme.com/f/In-memory-of-toots
