Bendigo Advertiser September 7, 2024 - Photos by Darren Howe

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It was Bella Canfield's last selfie. Now it's a painting of grief and joy

Bella Canfield's parents have spoken of the "joy" and "heartbreak" of the gift of a painting inspired by their daughter's last selfie.
The portrait of Bella and her dog Billy was given to Linda and Leigh Canfield by the recipients of a $45,000 grant from this year's Walk for Bell.
The Code 9 Foundation will use the funds to provide assistance dogs and help for emergency personnel with mental injuries, including post traumatic stress.
The toll on emergency staff has been felt by the Canfields since Bella's death in a car crash.
"They have a big part in our heart from pretty much that night of the accident," Linda Canfield said.
"What they go home with each night would be just unbelievable.
"I had to do it once. They're doing it over and over again."
Portrait of Bella 'holds a lot of grief' 
Bella was 18 years old when she was killed in a car crash while walking with her dog Billy in 2022.
She took a selfie of the pair the day she died. It was the basis for the portrait.
Seeing the painting for the first time caught Ms Canfield "totally off guard".
"It was joy, but it was heartbreak," she said.
"It holds a lot of grief with it because of the fact that it's her last photo.
"But at the same time, it's the most beautiful photo and it's something that we'll cherish forever.
"They've just captured her and Billy so great."

'Bella's name's alive'
The portrait was painted by Chrysti Atkins, the wife of one of Code 9's co-founders, Rob.
The idea came from a discussion about how the group could properly show their appreciation.
"We had a discussion - Rob, Chrysti and myself - and I'm going, 'Look, me just saying thank you doesn't seem enough'," Mark Thomas, the other co-founder, said.
"They lost their daughter yet Bella's name's alive and what they do in her name - it's just extraordinary."
Dogs help with trauma
The Code 9 Foundation had its beginnings in a support group started by Mr Thomas, a police officer who was diagnosed with PTSD, depression and anxiety in 2013.
"When I was in hospital, I felt incredibly alone," he said.
"I'm thinking no one can possibly know what I'm going through, which is complete and utter rubbish, but my brain wasn't good enough to think otherwise."
After leaving hospital, Mr Thomas started an informal support group which eventually expanded to include firefighters, paramedics and triple zero operators.
Mr Atkins came along with his support dog Jimmy in the early days of the group.
"We were just spell bounded," Mr Thomas said.
"We just smashed Rob with questions for three hours."
The pair went on to register Code 9 as a charity raising funds for assistance dogs.
The money raised by the Canfields will also go towards respite weekends, emergency accommodation and healthy meals for emergency personnel suffering with mental injuries.