A CHILDREN’S charity will be launched in honour of the 24-year-old Melbourne canoeist who drowned in the Murray River near Corryong last month.
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A month after the tragedy, Amy Dickinson’s family, friends and boyfriend of six years are facing life without their “beautiful big girl”.
Her father Cam Dickinson and little sister Laura, 21, have since got matching tattoos — of a bird alongside Amy’s name.
“Whenever we had holidays she (Amy) always wanted fake tattoos,” Mr Dickinson explained.
“And she always had a little bird.”
While Amy’s parents are separated, they remain on good terms, partly because of Amy’s efforts to get them together for special events, such as Christmas.
Amy was holidaying with her mother Helen Dickinson and Mrs Dickinson’s partner Ross Greenaway when she was swallowed by rapids while canoeing through picturesque Upper Murray countryside.
Mr Dickinson raced from Melbourne to join the search for his daughter, and the group’s camping holiday warped into their worst nightmare.
But in the midst of the heartbreak, Mr Dickinson said he was touched by acts of kindness from locals.
“They even said if we needed the bathroom just come up to the house ... even when they weren’t there,” he said.
“It was phenomenal.”
Mrs Dickinson has since nicknamed the area “Amy’s Valley”.
Her daughter’s funeral, on October 15 was attended by more than 1400 people that packed out the Camberwell Grammar School venue.
They also raised $2000 for a charity her family are launching in memory of the early childhood student, who was working at Wesley College Glen Waverley before she died.
For more information, or to donate, email cdickinson@rendina.com.au