Grandparents of Erin Jayne Plummer’s orphaned daughters stay away from their son-in-law’s funeral after double suicide tragedy

EXCLUSIVE 

The three orphaned daughters of television presenter Erin Jayne Plummer farewelled their father without two of the most important figures in their young lives being present.

Missing from Alan Plummer’s funeral at Macquarie Park Cemetery and Crematorium in Sydney’s north on Thursday were Erin’s parents Peter and Joy Gard.

Daily Mail Australia understands Mr and Mrs Gard’s already strained relationship with Mr Plummer ended completely after their daughter took her own life two-and-a-half years ago.

Since then, the Gards – aged in their mid-70s and known to their granddaughters as ‘Poppy’ and ‘GiGi’ – were prevented by the father from resuming close regular contact with the girls.

Mr Plummer was found dead at the base of a cliff at Freshwater on Sydney’s northern beaches on November 10, two-and-a-half years after his wife’s suicide.

It is believed he had made previous attempts to kill himself even before Erin’s tragic death.

The three Plummer daughters – aged 18, 15 and 10 – each spoke at their father’s funeral, which was attended by his mother and three siblings, as well as Erin’s brother.

The Gards, who appear in numerous old photographs playing with their grandchildren on Erin’s social media posts, were not named during the 35-minute service.

Erin was mentioned – as ‘EJ’ – just three times: once by a representative of Mr Plummer’s family and twice by one of his closest friends.

Nothing was said of her career presenting advertorials on television, which made the one-time champion synchronised swimmer a familiar face in loungerooms around Australia. 

And if her usual megawatt smile appeared anywhere in a six-and-a-half minute video montage was screened as the John Williamson classic True Blue and Green Day’s ubiquitous Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) played in the background, it did not stand out.

Daily Mail Australia has previously reported Erin had been planning on leaving her husband before her death but repeated requests for him to move out of the family home were ignored.

During a NSW State Coroner’s investigation, police were told the 42-year-old had confided to friends she was a victim of domestic violence at the hands of her husband.

A source familiar with the family’s situation said Erin had disclosed to friends that Mr Plummer, who worked in sales and marketing, was controlling and that she was suffering mental abuse.

The source said Mr Plummer had severe mental health issues and some of his previous attempts to end his life had led to him spending time in psychiatric wards.

He was also grappling with long-term medical issues, including heart problems.

The source said Mr Plummer, known as ‘Big Al’, had distanced himself from his wife’s friends and relatives following her suicide.

Court records obtained by Daily Mail Australia show Mr Plummer took his wife’s family to the Supreme Court in February last year after learning Erin had nominated them as beneficiaries of her will.

The outcome of the court matter, which was finalised in January this year, remains confidential.

Since Mr Plummer’s death, his daughters have been embraced by close friends of their parents, who have taken them into their homes. 

The girls took turns on Thursday speaking to about 200 mourners, including scores of their schoolmates, who packed the Magnolia Chapel until it overflowed. 

Eldest daughter Elani directly addressed ‘this battle against mental health that seems to plague our family’ and vowed to end the scourge. 

She also explained how her father had tried to let her continue her childhood after losing his wife in traumatic circumstances, ‘when everyone else looked at me as a mother’.

Elani had turned 18 two months before her father’s death and her middle sister is staying in Queensland while on a sports scholarship but where the youngest sister will now live is not known.

‘I firstly wanted to say a massive thank you to the families who have taken us three girls under their wings the past three weeks,’ Elani said. ‘We love you guys so much.’

Elani had only just completed her HSC and was out celebrating a friend’s 18th birthday the night before her father’s body was found. 

She said her father had continued to raise ‘three of the most competitive girls you’ll ever meet’ in the absence of their mother.

‘And we promise to win this battle against mental health that seems to plague our family,’ she said. ‘And with patience and kindness I promise it stops here.’ 

Elani’s 15-year-old sister spoke straight to their father: ‘I’m still a little confused as to why I am here. The last few weeks have felt like I’m still waiting to run into your arms.’ 

Mr Plummer’s death came two months after he sold the family’s Freshwater home, which he and Erin bought in 2002.

He had planned to move with his 10-year-old daughter to the Gold Coast to be closer to his 15-year-old.

A Plummer family representative spoke on behalf of Alan’s mother Cherold, known as Chez, brothers John and Glen and sister Cathy. Father Mick died in 2009.

‘Chez is proud of Alan and it’s been a privilege to have him in her life,’ the spokesman said. 

‘When Chez would be worried, Alan’s words were, “No worries Mum, I’ve got it covered, I have so many good people supporting me and the girls”.

‘To everyone here, the Plummer family wants to express their deepest gratitude. Over the last month the outpouring and love has been overwhelming. 

‘The way you’ve opened your homes, embraced the girls and surrounded them with care is something we’ll never forget.’

A GoFundMe appeal for the Plummer daughters has raised $26,555 of a $50,000 target. Almost $28,000 was donated to a similar campaign after Erin died.

‘Alan’s passing is a profound loss for all who knew him, and his absence is especially heart-wrenching for his three beautiful daughters,’ the latest fundraiser’s organiser said.

‘Tragically, this is the second devastating loss the girls have endured, having lost their mother only two years ago. 

‘Now, as they face a future without both parents, we, their community, are coming together to provide the support and stability they need.

‘We are raising funds to ensure [the children] have the resources to move forward – help with education, emotional support, and a secure foundation as they navigate this incredibly challenging time.’

Erin took her own life in May 2022 following a battle with mental health problems. Her body was found at the base of Manly cliff.

Friends said Erin had stopped being her ‘bouncy, energetic self’ in the weeks before her suicide. ‘I wish we had found her a way through,’ one said.

Colleagues at Studio 10 said they would miss her ‘sunshine’ in the studio and that the channel ‘lost a bit of its sparkle’.

Erin also appeared on TVSN, Mornings with Kerri-Anne and The Morning Show, earning the nickname ‘The Danoz Girl’ after the marketing company Danoz Direct.

She was also a presenter for Aerobics Oz Style for six years. The instructional aerobics TV series, which aired from 1982 to 2005, had a global audience of 40 million people at its peak and was broadcast into more than 80 countries.

Erin was described as a ‘gold medal mum’ to her daughters, who were ‘mini-me’ versions of their mother.

In addition to her television career, Erin represented Australia in synchronised swimmer at three world championships and won 11 national titles.

She was thrust into the spotlight at a young age when scouted at Manly Beach and cast in a tourism campaign which aired on the NBC network in the US as the ‘Face of Australia’.

The Australian Tourism Commission campaign also led to her being cast on Baywatch Australia.

But it was her advertising roles for which Erin was best-known. Over the years, she spruiked everything from massage chairs and workout programs to slimming jeans and steam mops.

When Erin wasn’t in front of the camera, she did numerous voice-overs for television.