By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
CHRISTMAS isn’t easy for the Murphys.
Ever since Paula Murphy’s 20-year-old daughter, Maddy, was found dead at her Pakenham unit more than a year ago, her family hasn’t had much to celebrate.
Maddy’s body was discovered on 23 October, 2013, and homicide detectives continue to investigate the death.
But last month the Murphys were given the chance to smile again, thanks to the team at Melboards in Hallam.
John Sanders, Max Croaker and Richard Halpin, from Melboards, helped provide a Thomas the Tank Engine bed for Maddy’s two-year-old son, Noah – a Christmas present to cherish.
Carpenter Warwick Deking and his partner Sue, good friends of the Murphys, also helped build the bed for Noah.
“A close friend of the family made it. Everything was donated right down to the cushions on it,” Paula said last week.
“Our friend knew how mad the boys were on Thomas anyway. In conversations he just decided this was something he wanted to do to.”
Paula said the family were poised with cameras at Christmas time to capture the moment when Noah came into his room to find the Thomas the Tank Engine bed inside.
“We were all waiting there with the cameras,” she said.
“Noah does this shy thing at the moment where he has this grin and walks really slowly to whatever is in front of him, but it wasn’t too long until he and Brydon were jumping on the bed.
Brydon is Paula’s one-year-old son, who she now raises along with Noah.
Homicide detectives are still investigating Maddy’s death following the discovery of her body on 23 October 2013.
“Even after a year, there’s still so many people thinking of Noah. Trying to help and do happy things for him,” Paula said.
“It’s hard to get through these times and you don’t think things will ever get better. You don’t know if you’re ever going to see anything happy again.
“So something like that was so refreshing, just to see Noah’s face.
“It’s a good thing; it’s a really good thing.”
Paula thanked everyone who had helped build and donate materials for the bed, including Sharon and Ian Glencross from the Paint Place in Cranbourne, and painters Noal Hunter and Eric Spokes.
