The western Victorian town of Hamilton is preparing to farewell four "lost angels" as the lone survivor of the Bochara car crash tragedy improves to a stable condition.
Key points:
Three teenagers and a 31-year-old woman died in the crash near Hamilton on May 27
Preparations are underway to farewell the four victims of the crash
The sole survivor, 17, is recovering from her injuries in hospital
Police are continuing to investigate the single-vehicle crash that claimed the lives of four people in Victoria's west on Saturday.
Teenagers Meghan Fox, Joshua Elmes and Lucus Garzoli, and 31-year-old Alicia Montebello, died at the scene of the crash that has torn at the heart-strings of the region.
The sole survivor, a 17-year-old girl, was flown to The Alfred Hospital with upper-body injuries in a critical condition.
Her condition has since been downgraded to stable, according to a hospital spokesperson.
Joshua Elmes will be remembered at a private ceremony for family and friends in Hamilton next week, with Meghan Fox and Lucus Garzoli also set to have their lives celebrated in the region.
It's understood Ms Montebello's funeral will be held in South Australia.
Joshua's mother, Lee-Ann Elmes, issued an impassioned message of thanks on social media for the way her town had banded together.
"I know that there is anger, frustration, sadness, numbness, regret going on around town, the state, the nation and the world, but none of these things will bring him or any of them home," Mrs Elmes said.
"So, I am asking as a mum who has two other children left, let's stop looking at the negatives because as we know the more we look the more we find."
An online fundraising campaign organised by Mrs Elmes to help pay for the funeral costs has raised more than $11,500.
"I would love to help the other grieving parents who have lost angels or have one badly hurt," Mrs Elmes wrote on the campaign site.
Community support remains
Additional mental-health workers have descended upon the Southern Grampians Shire in the wake of the tragedy.
A vigil has been set up at the crash site, including a light and small tokens and trinkets to remember the crash victims.
Southern Grampians Shire Council mayor, David Robertson, said the region was doing whatever it could to help people needing support.
"There has been a constant stream of people looking for the counselling services that we have offered all week," Cr Robertson said.
"If it is possible to retain these out-of-town personnel we will do all we can to retain them.
"There has been an increase in the demand for counselling services late in week doing all we can to manage scarce resources."
Push for more youth-focused initiatives in small town
CEO of Southern Grampians Shire Council, Tony Doyle, said council would be pushing for more youth-targeted services in the town in the future.
"We've long advocated for mental health support services in our region, which are (currently) insufficient," Mr Doyle said.
"Council, state government, federal government really need to focus on what we're providing, and how we're supporting youth in the community."
Mrs Elmes has been calling for a drop-in centre for youths on social media, and wrote that she planned to meet with Federal Member for Wannon, Dan Tehan, in Hamilton next week.
A state government spokesperson said it had funded various mental-health support programs that were being delivered in Hamilton.
"We understand this is a difficult time for the Hamilton community, and our thoughts go out to the friends and families of those who tragically died in the crash," the spokesperson said.
A spokesperson for the Transport Accident Commission said it was fast-tracking claims for the victims' families.
"The TAC is liaising with Victoria Police and the Victims Assistance Program to ensure families are aware of how the TAC can help, including financial and counselling supports to the families and loved ones affected," the spokesperson said.