Childhood sweethearts Allicia Lennen and Dean Rutland had their life plotted until a family tragedy struck.
The young couple were planning to marry and start a family, but
Lennen’s father died suddenly on her birthday, leaving her four younger
siblings without a primary carer.
At 26, Lennen has taken over caring for her siblings Paige, 16, Shane, 15, Ebony 13, and James, 9. The family and Rutland recently moved into their new Doreen home.
“It’s not what we planned but we wouldn’t have it any other way,” Lennen says.
“There’s a 10-year difference between myself and the second-eldest
and I was excited to get brothers and sisters and become a mini-mum
[when they were born],” she says.
The Lennen family is close and Lennen, an administrative officer,
was living at home with her father in Bundoora while her house was being
built.
Her father, Shane Lennen, had invited friends and family over to celebrate her birthday on July 5, but collapsed and died.
Although Mr Lennen, 52, suffered a rare lung disease and needed an
operation, Lennen suspects a heart attack took away the man who was “a
friend and a father” to his beloved brood.
Mr Lennen had been a stay-at-home dad for 10 years and his
children’s sole caregiver for the past two. He loved taking his boys to
play at the Bundoora Junior Football Club.
He was one of eight children and his home was a hub for family and friends, where his distinctive heartfelt laugh rang out.
Rutland, 25, a mature-age apprentice, and Lennen met at Greensborough College when they were 16 and became sweethearts.
“Our wedding plans have been put on hold for the moment,” Lennen says.
Nicole Hassall is part of a fund-raising effort to get the family a
“people mover” vehicle so they can travel together instead of using two
cars.
The fund-raisers need the donated use of a jumping castle and
large marquee as well as goods for an auction and the donated time of
entertainers.
» The Lennen family fund-raiser is at Bundoora Football Club, 1001 Plenty Road, September 29, 12.30-4.30pm. Call 0425 831 074.
