Four hundred people will be invited to attend Chloe Saxby's funeral on Friday after her family received a state exemption from the NSW government.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The invitation-only service - which the family is calling a Celebration of Life Ceremony, where guests will be asked to come dressed in colourful outfits rather than traditional black - will take place at Wollongong Town Hall at 11am for 400 people.
Exemptions from COVID-19 restrictions are only considered where there are exceptional circumstances to justify the exemption.
Chloe died last week after a long battle with Vanishing White Matter Disease.
The Saxby family said the exemption meant they were allowed to have 470 people attend the funeral, however the number will be limited to 400.
To comply with NSW COVID-safe rules, guests have to be invited and will be required to wear a mask during for the service and have their mobiles ready to register with a QR code.
Chloe's aunty Nicole Laurie said the family thanked the community for being so understanding and patient as they organised the funeral to comply with NSW requirements.
Mrs Laurie said it had been a very busy and difficult few days.
"We have been given an exemption but still have to abide by COVID regulations of people per square metre," she said.
"We are trying to keep the numbers to 400 if possible to still be able to have an intimate service."
News of the exemption came as a relief after Member for Keira Ryan Park successfully lobbied on their behalf to give Chloe the farewell he felt she deserved.
"Over the last five days my office has been working with the Minister for Health, his staff and NSW Health officials along with the Saxby family to try and ensure additional people could attend this celebration of Chloe's life," Mr Park said.
"I am delighted that late yesterday he agreed to grant an exemption and I want to thank the Minister for taking the time to consider the issues we raised but also ensuring that the event needs to be COVID safe.
"Chloe was a fighter and my staff and I wanted to fight to ensure she got a celebration of her life that reflected how much she was loved by the community and what an impact she had on all those she met."
NSW Minister for Health Brad Hazzard granted the exemption subject to all Covid-safe conditions being met.