Pheobe Bishop: Unsupported GoFundMe page in memory of Bundaberg teen sparks outrage
Shortly after Pheobe Bishop was remembered as a bright and bold spark at a memorial vigil in the Queensland town of Gin Gin, her mother revealed that a fundraising page had been created that was not approved by the family.
The GoFundMe page was established on Sunday and had a target to raise $10,000.
The 17-year-old was missing for three weeks, and her housemates James Wood, 34 and Tanika Bromley, 33, have been charged with her murder.
'THIS HASN'T BEEN APPROVED OR SUPPORTED BY THE FAMILY,' the 17-year-old's furious mother, Kylie Johnson, wrote on Facebook when she shared the unofficial fundraising page.
The post was quickly flooded with comments encouraging Ms Johnson to report the page.
The organiser of the unwanted fundraiser commented on the post, saying she didn't intend for it to be a scam.
'It was a genuine act of trying to help. Whatever money was donated was going to you to do as you see fit,' Catherine Stevenson wrote.
The page has since been taken down.
Another fundraiser, which misspells Pheobe's name, has been created by a man from Melbourne to assist in 'covering costs in facilitating public memorial efforts... and other community-driven support initiatives', which is still live on GoFundMe.
The organiser acknowledged that the fundraiser is not affiliated or endorsed by Pheobe's family.
The official
GoFundMe
page supported by Pheobe's family has received almost 150 donations, raising $5,800.
A message shared on the page says that in honour of Pheobe's memory, the proceeds will be donated to support services such as the SES, who 'volunteer their time without reimbursement and have played an integral part of finding missing loved ones in our community.'
Funds will also be donated to the Y School in Bundaberg, where Pheobe attended.
'This is more than a fundraiser — this is a tribute to a beautiful life, and a call to action to protect the most vulnerable in our communities,' a message on the page reads.
The goal is to raise $17,000.
The Nightly has reached out to GoFundMe for comment.
Ms Johnson also shared that a 4x4 convoy will take place next Sunday to honour one of Pheobe's passions.
'Anyone that knew Phee knew that she loved the outdoors, she got her passion for cars from her poppy and dad and her passion for 4x4ing and camping from me and her brothers,' Ms Johnson wrote on Facebook.
Pheobe's friends and the wider Gin Gin community have been invited to meet at the Gin Gin Motel and drive to Bundaberg Airport.
People have been encouraged to wear bright colours or clothing with butterflies.
On Saturday, police confirmed human remains were found in the Good Night National Park near Gin Gin and a crime scene was established.
Wide Bay Burnett Detective Inspector Craig Mansfield said additional testing and examination had to take place to formally identify the remains as Pheobe's.
'We always wanted to bring Pheobe home, and we believe that this is the first step in that process,' Det-Insp Mansfield said.
'We do hope that this development, coupled with the arrests...will bring some level of closure to Pheobe's family so they can begin to move forward with their grieving process.'
On Thursday, Queensland Police charged James Wood, 34, and Tamika Bromley, 33, with one count each of murder and two counts each of interfering with a corpse.
At 2.30pm on Friday, officers discovered what they believe is Pheobe's body.
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Pheobe's mum slams charity fundraiser
The mother of missing Queensland teenager Phoebe Bishop has slammed a fundraiser raising money in her daughter's name. Ms Bishop, 17, was declared missing after she failed to check-in for a flight from Bundaberg to visit her boyfriend in Western Australia on May 15. On Friday, police said they found human remains near the Good Night National Scrub Park outside of Gin Gin, but were yet to confirm if they were Ms Bishop's. The teen's roommates, James Wood, 34, and Tanika Bromley, 33, have been charged with her murder and are alleged by police to have moved her body multiple times. Amid an outpouring of grief, Ms Bishop's mother, Kylie Johnson, took to social media on Sunday to condemn a GoFundMe campaign set up in her daughter's name. 'This hasn't been approved or supported by the family,' Ms Bishop wrote on Facebook of the campaign, which was titled 'In memory of Phoebe Bishop'. The campaign appeared to have been suspended after raising just $24. Credit: Newswire On Monday, the campaign appeared to have been suspended after raising just $24, stating that: 'This fundraiser is no longer accepting donations'. According to the GoFundMe page, the campaign was organised by a Winfield woman and featured images of the teenager. Riddled with typos, the campaign featured a stated goal of raising 'monies' for 'Pheobe's mother, Kylie, to help the family, to donate to where they choose'. A separate GoFundMe campaign, which has been endorsed by Ms Bishop's family, has raised more than $6000 to a goal of $17,000. Organised by Tracey Berends, the campaign is aimed at raising money for the SES and agencies working to find Ms Bishop, and those that supported her in her life. 'We would also like to be able to donate to the YSchool in Bundaberg on Pheobe's behalf where Pheobe thrived from their support and guidance,' Ms Berends wrote. On Friday, police found human remains near the Good Night National Scrub Park outside of Gin Gin. QLD Police Credit: Supplied 'Pheobe had a gentle soul and a generous spirit — always caring for others and standing up for what was right. 'We want her legacy to live on and by paying it forward to the amazing volunteers and community. 'All funds raised will be donated to these carefully chosen community groups that work to support our Wide Bay community.' A further GoFundMe campaign purporting to be raising money for 'any individual family member or legal representative' was still online on Monday, The organiser, Melbourne-based Dilraj Dilraj, said 'being conducted independently' and was not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the family of Phoebe Bishop. A candlelight vigil at Kolan Community Park in Gin Gin was held on Sunday in honour o Pheobe Bishop. NewsWire / Paul Beutel Credit: News Corp Australia 'Funds raised will be allocated towards facilitating public memorial efforts, awareness activities, community response co-ordination, and covering administrative and professional costs necessary to manage this campaign appropriately,' the campaign stated. As of Monday afternoon, the campaign had raised only $50 from one donation to a goal of $3m. It comes after a candlelight vigil at Kolan Community Park in Gin Gin was held on Sunday in honour of the missing teen. A second candlelight vigil is expected at Buss Park in nearby Bundaberg on Monday from 5pm.
West Australian
2 hours ago
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Mum of missing teen Pheobe Bishop slams ‘unapproved' charity fundraiser
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Pheobe Bishop: Unsupported GoFundMe page in memory of Bundaberg teen sparks outrage
Shortly after Pheobe Bishop was remembered as a bright and bold spark at a memorial vigil in the Queensland town of Gin Gin, her mother revealed that a fundraising page had been created that was not approved by the family. The GoFundMe page was established on Sunday and had a target to raise $10,000. The 17-year-old was missing for three weeks, and her housemates James Wood, 34 and Tanika Bromley, 33, have been charged with her murder. 'THIS HASN'T BEEN APPROVED OR SUPPORTED BY THE FAMILY,' the 17-year-old's furious mother, Kylie Johnson, wrote on Facebook when she shared the unofficial fundraising page. The post was quickly flooded with comments encouraging Ms Johnson to report the page. The organiser of the unwanted fundraiser commented on the post, saying she didn't intend for it to be a scam. 'It was a genuine act of trying to help. Whatever money was donated was going to you to do as you see fit,' Catherine Stevenson wrote. The page has since been taken down. Another fundraiser, which misspells Pheobe's name, has been created by a man from Melbourne to assist in 'covering costs in facilitating public memorial efforts... and other community-driven support initiatives', which is still live on GoFundMe. The organiser acknowledged that the fundraiser is not affiliated or endorsed by Pheobe's family. The official GoFundMe page supported by Pheobe's family has received almost 150 donations, raising $5,800. A message shared on the page says that in honour of Pheobe's memory, the proceeds will be donated to support services such as the SES, who 'volunteer their time without reimbursement and have played an integral part of finding missing loved ones in our community.' Funds will also be donated to the Y School in Bundaberg, where Pheobe attended. 'This is more than a fundraiser — this is a tribute to a beautiful life, and a call to action to protect the most vulnerable in our communities,' a message on the page reads. The goal is to raise $17,000. The Nightly has reached out to GoFundMe for comment. Ms Johnson also shared that a 4x4 convoy will take place next Sunday to honour one of Pheobe's passions. 'Anyone that knew Phee knew that she loved the outdoors, she got her passion for cars from her poppy and dad and her passion for 4x4ing and camping from me and her brothers,' Ms Johnson wrote on Facebook. Pheobe's friends and the wider Gin Gin community have been invited to meet at the Gin Gin Motel and drive to Bundaberg Airport. People have been encouraged to wear bright colours or clothing with butterflies. On Saturday, police confirmed human remains were found in the Good Night National Park near Gin Gin and a crime scene was established. Wide Bay Burnett Detective Inspector Craig Mansfield said additional testing and examination had to take place to formally identify the remains as Pheobe's. 'We always wanted to bring Pheobe home, and we believe that this is the first step in that process,' Det-Insp Mansfield said. 'We do hope that this development, coupled with the bring some level of closure to Pheobe's family so they can begin to move forward with their grieving process.' On Thursday, Queensland Police charged James Wood, 34, and Tamika Bromley, 33, with one count each of murder and two counts each of interfering with a corpse. At 2.30pm on Friday, officers discovered what they believe is Pheobe's body.
