There has been an outpouring of generosity from residents and local businesses since the keen gymnast was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in November, last year.

Brave Matilda has endured 20 chemotherapy treatments as well as a 13-hour operation on her legs at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne.

Back home the close-knit townsfolk have pitched in to help mum Kellie, Matilda and her twin sister Edie and brother Charlie, 13.

Kellie had to close the doors on her hairdressing business at Christmas to focus on Matilda’s care and the frequent trips up and down the freeway to Melbourne.

One of the “sweetest” fundraising efforts has come from the newly re-opened Jindera Takeaway store, which has donated proceeds from coffee and cupcake sales to the tune of $2205 in just over a week.

Cafe owner Fiona Brown, a born-and-bred Jindera resident whose parents Margie and Frank Shannon own the building, said customers and staff were only too happy to support such a good cause.

“In a place like Jindera, your community becomes your family,” Fiona said.

“Life gets so busy but people want to feel like they are part of something bigger than themselves.”

Fiona said Jindera IGA donated half the milk with Riverina Fresh and KWS Coon donating the other half, Botero providing the coffee and cupcake cook Amy Hanel donating $1 from each sale.

The generosity has not stopped there with the petrol station donating fuel each week and contributions from St John’s Primary School, the Jindera Tyre Centre, pony club and Fox & Brew coffee shop.

“Someone who won the meat tray at the pub the other night gave it to Kell and that made us both cry,” Fiona said.

“Matilda is such a trooper – she’s very, very sick but when she comes in here she’s all smiles even though her mouth is full of ulcers.”

Kellie said her daughter was the strongest person she’d ever met.

“She’s only complained once – in the bath one night she said, ‘Why me?’ but then she just shook herself off and kept going,” Kellie said.

Matilda’s cancer is the result of a rare genetic condition called Rothmund-Thomson syndrome; in July 2017 the family learned Kellie was a carrier and that Charlie too has the condition.

An active child and talented gymnast, Matilda had suffered a series of baffling broken bones that doctors originally dismissed as “bad luck”.

“She would just break walking – she has had 10 broken bones for no particular reasons,” Kellie said.

“There were just a lot of quirky things that didn’t necessarily mean anything on their own but things had been difficult for Matilda for a long time.”

Matilda will head back to Melbourne in coming weeks for a second operation to remove the framework off her leg followed by surgery to remove a spot from her lungs once chemo is finished.

She is currently in a wheelchair but Kellie says the prognosis is positive and the treatment has “done what it’s meant to do”.

Meanwhile Matilda – who is a “bit of a daredevil” according to her mum – has made a list of things she wants to do after her treatment comes to an end.

“She wants to jump out of a plane but she certainly won’t be doing that,” Kellie laughed.

“She might have to settle for an Eye-Fly, which gives you the sensation of sky-diving in a wind tunnel.”

The family is looking forward to a well-deserved holiday hopefully next year.

Kellie said the frequent travelling to and from Melbourne with Matilda took its toll on her siblings at times.

“Kids are pretty resilient but they’ve been through a lot in their lives,” she said.

“We are lucky to have Gran and Pa (Kellie’s parents Pam and Ian McCracken) who look after Charlie and Edie but they miss us dreadfully.”

The level community support shown to the family has been nothing short of overwhelming for Kellie.

“Thank God we live in Jindera,” she said.