Nearly €50k raised for family of Tipperary man who died in Australia

Kevin Ivers had been living with his fiancee and their two sons in the western Australian town of Gingin

The fund was set up for Ann and Richie Ivers whose son Kevin was killed in a car crash near Perth on June 9 that is understood to have happened during a torrential rain storm. Picture:PA

Nearly €50,000 has been raised on a GoFundMe page for the family of a Tipperary man who died in Australia.

The fund was set up for Ann and Richie Ivers whose son Kevin was killed in a car crash near Perth on June 9 that is understood to have happened during a torrential rain storm.

He had been living with his fiancee Rhyllie Emma Vine in the western Australian town of Gingin and their two sons, Sonny and Banjo.

About an hour from Perth, the small town is where his plant hire firm Golden Plant Hire, which he and his brother Paddy set up in 2019, is based.

The former Cashel Community School pupil, who grew up in the Tipperary village of Golden, had moved to Australia about 12 years ago.

The organizer of the fund, which has so far raised €47,034 of its €10,000 target thanks to more than 550 donations, said: “All proceeds donated will help the family travel to Australia and support the family during this very difficult time.” 

Golden/kilfeacle GAA club posted on social media one of the many tributes for their former hurler.

The club said in a post on their Facebook account that “(the club) would like to extend their deepest sympathy” to Ivers' family “on the heartbreaking passing of their son and brother Kevin”.

They said that he had been a former player with the club “at all levels” before he moved to Perth. They added he was “gone from this world way too soon”.

Former coach Gerard Luby said: “Devastated on hearing of Kevin’s passing.

“(I) had the honour of being his minor hurling coach.

A determined, courageous, resolute player — values which he took into adulthood. A pleasure to be around and a gentleman to the core. Golden has lost one of its finest.

 Among the tributes of him on the RIP.ie website, one read: “Kevin was such a lovely man. Full of life and always smiling. “ A couple from Kilfeacle whose sons were on the same GAA teams as Mr Ivers, said: “Chris and Matt from tots were on that GAA team with Kevin all the way up till their lives took them all on different paths.

“Kevin achieved so much in his short life. No words can console (his family) at this dreadful time.

“Kevin got so much into his short life and leaves a legacy with his two little boys.” One friend described him as “an absolutely lovely person”, while another said “he was taken from us all too soon and had so much more to give”.

They added: “We won't ever find a friend like him, he will always have a place in our heart.” Local councillor Liam Browne put up a post urging people to donate to the GoFundMe page set up to help the family fly to Australia at such short notice.

“This is a tough post to have to make,” he said in a Facebook post. “I hope people can be generous and help out a local family.

“Unfortunately a great weekend for myself and my neighbours was tempered last night, by the news that Kevin Ivers, son of Richie and Anne in Golden had passed away in a tragic accident in Australia.

“It's hard enough on any family to hear such tragic news, but to then face into a journey of thousands of miles to say goodbye, adds to the heartache “The good people of Golden, are rallying around the family, as they always do.