Stephanie and her mother were expected to be brought back to Melbourne on an emergency flight from Christchurch on Thursday evening. The family of four from Craigieburn in Melbourne's north was on the Ovations of the Seas cruise ship which left Sydney on December 4 for a pre-Christmas trip across the Tasman. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Marie stayed behind while Paul and their daughters went on a day excursion to White Island. Paul has been a senior investigator at the State Revenue Office Victoria for more than 30 years.

Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas said his thoughts were with the family and the Commissioner of State Revenue Paul Broderick said counselling had been offered to staff. Loading "It has been an incredibly sad week," Mr Broderick said. "Paul works as a senior investigator, and has been with us as a valuable staff member for over 30 years. "We have passed on our thoughts and prayers to Paul's wife, friends and family. We are all thinking of them during this tragedy." Neighbour Supreetha Konda on Thursday described the Browitts as a "beautiful family ... very kind and very decent".

"We would exchange home-cooked food, they liked my Indian cooking ... whenever they cooked they cooked extra as well, cakes and pastries and muffins," she said. "The kids are very, very beautiful and talk very softly with gentle smiles and a welcoming nature." She said both daughters were animal-lovers and were always doting over her puppy. Ms Konda saw the family right before they left for their cruise to celebrate Krystal's birthday. "Paul had come home and he said it’s my daughter’s birthday, these are the cakes and snacks. He was very happy and the family were very excited to go and have this holiday, they wanted a real family time. They were telling me they will come back and see us during Christmas."

Loading "I’m heartbroken for Marie. She loves the family a lot, and it’s always family, family, family." A family friend, who has set up a GoFundMe page for the Browitts, said Marie was "the most loveable and likeable person". "She wouldn't hurt a fly. This is our chance to help them," he said. The family friend, who had taken the same cruise trip just two weeks before the Browitt family, said he and Marie had chatted about the holiday.

"We were talking about how much they were going to enjoy the hospitality, entertainment, buffets and everything it has to offer," he said. "They're a working-class family. You don't save up to go on a wonderful holiday and expect something like this to happen." Krystal, who has worked at Woolworths, graduated from Kolbe Catholic College in Greenvale in 2016 and studied veterinary nursing. Kolbe Catholic College's principal Nick Scully said Krystal was a "much-loved member of the Kolbe community that her teachers describe as a beautiful soul". Krystal Browitt is missing on White Island.