THE grieving family of Sarah Teelow has been touched by the sympathy of people near and far from home at Wellington.
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Sarah, a 20-year-old world champion waterskier, died in hospital on Monday night after a fall during a high speed river race in Sydney's north.
Father Tony Hennessy, parish priest of St Patrick's,Wellington, said the community's care had flowed in the dark time.
"The family does appreciate people's support and prayers and the different ways of helping," he said.
"It has come to them from Wellington and across NSW."
Sarah grew up at Wellington and graduated from St John's College at Dubbo.
The university student's rise in ski racing reached new heights two months ago when she won the women's world formula two title in Spain.
Father Hennessy said Sarah's talent, along with her age, made her death difficult for everyone.
"It always strikes hard when someone is young and well-liked," he said.
"Speaking to people around town, at the school and church groups, there is a sense of sadness.
"It's a loss to the community."
The local people who had known the young woman from childhood and cheered on her successes will come together to remember her.
"St Patrick's Parish will pray for Sarah and her family at mass this weekend," Father Hennessy said.
"And a lot of people and churches around town have them in their thoughts and prayers as well."
Sarah came off her ski on the Hawkesbury River soon after the start of the Bridge to Bridge Water Ski Classic on Sunday morning.
She sustained serious spinal and head injuries and was airlifted to Royal North Shore Hospital but died about 8pm on Monday with her parents, Chris and Tania, at her bedside.
They own a long-standing business at Dubbo and Tania is a two-time world champion waterskier.
Tributes to their talented daughter flowed on Tuesday.
St John's College year 12 co-ordinator Diane Quade told the Daily Liberal the graduate had "a beautiful smile, so joyous" and family friend from Dubbo Tim Wray remembered Sarah "always had a smile on her face".
The second-year student was to have received the University of Technology Sydney's highest sporting honour on Friday, deputy vice-chancellor Shirley Alexander told the Daily Liberal on Tuesday.
"(Sarah) was an outstanding student, an elite athlete and a very good citizen of the university and we are very proud of her," Professor Alexander said.