A close friend of a woman murdered in the doorway of her home on Wednesday night has described the 61-year-old as "a beautiful person" who came from a tight family, lived for her children and put so much back into her community.
Sporting clubs and friends of Stacey Klimovitch are rallying support for the Stockton grandmother's family, holding an online fundraiser to help with funeral and other costs now facing her devastated loved ones.
Chris Halpin, who has been a friend of the Klimovitchs' for about 25 years, told the Newcastle Herald the family was the kind that "put everything back into the community".
She said Ms Klimovitch, her three daughters, son, new grandson and former husband were a "close-knit family".
"Stace has always been there, she's been such a supportive, good mum to her kids," she said.
"They were her life. She really loved her family and did anything for them.
"You never saw her in a bad mood, she just had one of those lovely bubbly personalities, always laughing.
"She would help anyone, she really would."
Ms Halpin said Ms Klimovitch would turn up alongside ex-husband George to support their children on the sporting field each week - be it rugby union or softball - and the former married couple remained close and committed to the family even after they had parted.
"I used to joke to them that you wouldn't know they were divorced, they were so friendly," she said.
"They raised the children together, they really got-on well. Stacey never drove so George would pick her up and bring her to sport with the kids. They had a great relationship."
Ms Halpin along with Strikers Softball Club, Newcastle District Softball Association, Hunter Wildfires Rugby Union and Wanderers Rugby Club have joined forces to raise money for the family. The page had raised more than $11,000 as of Friday afternoon.
"The Newcastle and Stockton communities and associated sporting groups are heartbroken to hear about the tragic death of loving Mum and local swimming coach, Stacey Klimovitch," a message from the Go Fund Me page organisers said.
Ms Klimovitch was killed by a shotgun blast in the front doorway of her Queen Street home just before 8pm on Wednesday.
One of her three daughters, 31, and infant grandson were at the home when the shot rang out, but were not injured before the shooter fled the scene down Little William Street.
Newcastle detectives and State Crime Command Homicide Squad police have formed Strike Force Backhouse to investigate the murder.
Police continued to scour the area for clues on Friday and door-knock streets around Ms Klimovitch's home in search of new information. Detective Superintendent Wayne Humphrey on Thursday labelled the killing a "targeted" attack. No-one had been arrested or charged over the shooting at the time of publication.
