JACK Murphy should have been preparing to receive his learner driver licence.
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The popular teen was 14 when he suffered sudden cardiac death on June 2 last year and would have turned 16 next Monday, July 1.
"He was robbed of his life and we were robbed of him," his mum Siobhan Murphy said.
"But even though he's gone, he's still very much alive: I want his memory to always be here and I don't want people to forget him. I thought 'The first Saturday every July we're going to celebrate Jack's birthday'."
Mrs Murphy, her husband Robert and daughter Aimee have organised a sold-out dinner dance for 196 people on July 6 at Newcastle Exhibition and Convention Centre to raise funds for the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute.
"It's going to be so emotional, but this is about having a good time to celebrate him," she said.
"Jack would not want us to be sad. He was never negative and that's what is keeping me going.
"We have to live our lives how he would have wanted us to. He had an aura around him and such a presence."
Central Waste Station at Kurri Kurri has paid for the band and room hire. More than $11,000 in prizes have been donated for the silent auction - include a tug boat ride courtesy of Svitzer - and raffle, including a $1000 Outdoor Elegance furniture voucher and accommodation, beauty and restaurant vouchers.
Mrs Murphy said they were "truly blessed" by generous supporters and friends such as Johann Dunne, who had been a "God send".
The Jack Murphy Memorial Scooter Competition and donations to an Everyday Hero page have raised $16,570 for research.
Aimee said this was "a testament to the character Jack was and how he treated people".
Helen Gregory
Helen Gregory joined the Newcastle Herald in 2010. She is the masthead’s education reporter and has written for the H2 and Weekender sections, as well as across a range of issues. Helen is a Walkley Award winning journalist and was also part of the Newcastle Herald team that won the United Nations World Environment Day Media Award for Environmental Reporting.
Helen Gregory joined the Newcastle Herald in 2010. She is the masthead’s education reporter and has written for the H2 and Weekender sections, as well as across a range of issues. Helen is a Walkley Award winning journalist and was also part of the Newcastle Herald team that won the United Nations World Environment Day Media Award for Environmental Reporting.
