The community is rallying around a Georgetown family to help it cope with the death of their 10-year-old eldest son in a motorcycle accident on their dairy farm on Monday.
Matthew James Richardson died when his two-wheel 80cc motorcycle collided with a four-wheel-drive vehicle being driven by a farm worker on a road on the Glen Settlement Rd property, which the Richardson family moved to recently from Taranaki.
Matthew attended Papakaio School with two of his three sisters and was in year 6.
Principal Gary Shirley yesterday met the family and said offers of help had come from throughout the community.
Two Taranaki families who had farms at Morven were helping run the dairy farm.
There had been a wide range of help from others in the community and a meeting was planned on Monday at Papakaio to co-ordinate that assistance to meet the family's needs.
"The whole district is rallying around. People have been fantastic," Mr Shirley said.
Those wanting to help could contact him or attend Monday's meeting.
Mr Shirley said Matthew and his family had integrated well into the school and community.
A response team of four people, along with another from the Ministry of Education, had been put together to help pupils at the school, the family and other families in the community cope.
A letter had been sent out to families telling them accurately what had happened and how families could respond.
The school chaplain would also be available to help.
The ministry had provided ideas and checklists to ensure children, adults and teachers' needs were met and suitable support was available, Mr Shirley said.
Sergeant Wayne Brew, of Oamaru, said police were still investigating the accident on behalf of the coroner.
The Department of Labour's Occupational Safety and Health was also investigating.
