A mother-of-two who drowned at a Victorian lake trying to save her child has been remembered as a "gentle and caring soul".
Josephine Williamson became Victoria's fifth drowning victim in six days on Saturday afternoon while swimming at Lake Victoria, in Forge Creek near Bairnsdale in eastern Victoria.
She was with two of her young children when she got into difficulty in the water and could not be revived, police said.
Karen Sampson, who started an online campaign to raise funds for the Williamson family, said Ms Williamson, was a loving mother to her two children, Robbie and Kathryn.
"She was a much loved member of our local community and will be missed dearly," she wrote.
In another tribute, Kylie Fordham posted: "Josephine was a beautiful, gentle and caring soul who was incredibly generous and kind. She will be sadly missed and fondly remembered".
Ms Williamson was known not to be a strong swimmer.
Her death came on the same day the Victorian government launched an online water safety campaign.
Authorities will use geolocation-based technology to send warning messages online and via social media, targeting specific age groups and nationalities in foreign languages.
Holiday makers will be warned to be on alert, use patrolled beaches only, swim between flags and be aware of conditions and what's under water before diving or entering.
Ms Williamson's death comes after Harmanjot Singh Walia, 27, died after slipping into the water at MacKenzie Falls near Stawell in Victoria on Boxing Day.
The Indian man, who lives in New Zealand, landed in Australia the day before to visit friends.
On Christmas Day, a diver died after getting into difficulty off the coast of Cape Schanck on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula.
If followed the drownings of a 20-year-old man and another in his 40s while swimming at Phillip Island beach in Victoria on Christmas Eve.
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