The family of Deirdre and Leela Naughton has thanked the Seymour and district community for its overwhelming display of support.
Horses and carriages transported Deirdre and daughter Leela as they were laid to rest on August 7.
Deirdre, 42, and Leela, 10, were tragically killed in a house fire in Tallarook on July 11 while Deirdre’s long-term partner Clint Dodd was working in South Australia.
Mother and grandmother Rachel Naughton said Deirdre loved her farming childhood in Booligal, NSW, and was the youngest of three children.
“The eldest, Michael, and her sister Bridget doted on their baby sister, the pint-sized dynamo,” she said.
“Deirdre attended school in Hay and later in Melbourne. A love of country life remained with her always.
“At four years old, Deidre wanted either for the family to move to Albury or for her to go to boarding school to join the Flying Fruit Fly Circus.
“Later in Melbourne, I enrolled her in training with Circus Oz. She began her stunt career in Year 10, doing such things as BMX bike stunts with the neighbours.”
A career in the stunt industry featured two-and-a-half years at Universal Studios Japan with starring roles in the live shows of Waterworld and Terminator.
She had further career highlights in Rogue and more recently Nitram, which received a standing ovation at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival.
Leela was born in 2011 and Deirdre became a devoted mother. Clint and Deirdre were together since 2014, buying a farm at Tallarook in 2016.
They worked together, with Clint leading Deirdre into special effects while she also continued with stunts. Deirdre was looking forward to Clint returning from South Australia at the end of the week to work with her.
“Deirdre was blessed with boundless energy, resilience and a strong sense of purpose. Greatly loved and a friend to many,” Rachel said.
“She will be a greatly missed mother, partner, sister, aunty, daughter, colleague and friend.”
Leela was born at the Mercy Hospital, Heidelberg, with her aunty Bridget in attendance.
Deirdre and her extended family ensured Leela was greatly loved and she saw her cousins Patrick and Matilda and Clint’s daughter Jess as her brother and sisters.
“Leela developed a great capacity for love and loyalty. Indigo was her bestie at school,” Rachel said.
“Leela was athletic like her mother. She loved attending Puckapunyal Primary School and was proud of being good at maths and spelling.
“She was a fast runner and loved to climb trees and to dance. She had a wonderful singing voice and we were about to start singing lessons for her.
“She had natural jazz timing as well as a full harmonic sound. Her favourite song was Katy Perry’s Roar and boy could she sing it.”
Leela told her cousins that she would like to be a singer and/or run an animal shelter with cousin Matilda and best friend Indigo when she grew up.
“She liked to ride and loved the horse culture and clothes. We had researched the local pony club which was due to start again in September,” Rachel said.
“Leela loved all animals. Her job on the farm was to collect the eggs and let out the chooks, the geese and the ducks in the morning.
“Then at night, she fed them and the horse and locked them up. Her beloved, dog, Tully, has gone with her.
“Leela will be remembered for her kindness, determination and strength. We all admired and loved her dearly. She will be missed every day of our lives.”
A fundraiser has been set up to help Clint rebuild his life and has raised $180,000 of the $200,000 goal. To donate, visit gofundme.com/f/help-clint-rebuild-his-life
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