Krozina Ken is overwhelmed by memories of her mother, Roza Mawen, who was killed in a horror smash in western Sydney two weeks ago.
The 19-year-old wiped away tears as she thought about how she wished to honour her and remember her
“Her love to us, towards us," she told SBS News.
"All of the memories [are] coming at once.”
The eldest of four, Ms Ken said she was trying to stay strong and take care of her family.
“[My] focus [is] on my younger siblings and (to) look after them,” she said.
Roza Mawen, Bianca Goak and Adut Mathang died when the white sedan they were passengers in crashed into a pole and flipped in western Sydney on February 20.
Adut Mathong’s husband William grieves over the death of his wife. Source: SBS News
Almost two weeks on, their South Sudanese community remains in mourning and is struggling to bury the women.
Community President Emmanuel Kondok said it would cost up to $50,000 to organise their burials - money the community does not have.
"The community desperately, desperately, needs help burying these three people," Mr Kondok told SBS News.
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"It is a huge burden on the community, and it's hard to afford."
“We are really very desperate and [are] appealing to the society, to at least try their best to support us in this situation."
Bianca Goak’s ex-husband, Deng Bar, said his main concern was for her eight children.
"They are feeling very bad, and they are not happy,” he said.
“We want the bodies to be buried as soon as possible."
Mr Kondok said Australia's 35,000 strong South Sudanese community - mostly refugees - was in many ways still getting established, with an unemployment rate of close to 30 per cent.
He said that was is a key reason why they were unable to raise the funds themselves.
Mother of eight Bianca Goak was one of the three women killed in single-vehicle smash. Source: SBS
"The South Sudanese are a new community to this country, and many don't have jobs," Mr Kondok said.
“It is very difficult to raise the money ourselves.”
A fundraising appeal has begun in an attempt to get help.
Committee member Madu Uguak has asked well-wishers to donate as much as they can.
"That is our request to Australia-wide so they can support us, to help us,” he said.
“This [is] beyond our capacity as we are as a community and we are also new to this country."
If the $50,000 target is not reached, the bodies will have to be cremated.
But Mr Kondok said cremation was not a culturally acceptable way for people from South Sudan to honour the dead.
"It is one of the difficult parts culturally with Southern Sudanese for a person to be cremated," he said.
South Sudanese community President Emmanuel Kondok (centre) said tribal hatred will not help anyone. Source: SBS News
"It will look ugly to the families, and the families might have even more trauma."
“It will even take some time to collect the money, if we can't afford to collect the money within the week."
The driver, a 33-year-old man, remains in Westmead Hospital with head injuries but has since been charged over the crash.
It is alleged he failed to stop at a police random breath test and attempted to speed away from police.
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Adut Mathong’s grieving husband, William Maud, said the community also hoped to bring Ms Ken's grandmother from South Sudan to care for the children.
"I can handle myself, and Deng can handle himself as well, but who's going to handle these kids?" he said.
As for Ms Ken, she said it was important to give her mother a proper farewell.
"It's kind of important for us that she's buried in a place we're gonna go visit her and see her, and see her grave knowing she's looking after us from up above,” she said.
How to donate
Those who would like to support the South Sudanese community can make a direct deposit to the following account:
Name: Fundraising Appeal Accounts
BSB: 062317
Account Number: 10852812
Bank: Commonwealth Bank
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