250 mourn cheeky 16-year-old Spencer Botting

THE haunting silence was broken only by sobs and the hum of the motors of passing cars, as friends and family of Spencer Michael Botting gathered on Sunday to say farewell.

More than 200 people paid their respects to the 16-year-old who died in a car crash on Saturday night, even though it was held with only a couple hours’ notice. His closest school mates from Wodonga Senior Secondary College organised the tribute at the Staghorn Flat crash site.

They all agreed his “cheeky smile” was the thing they would remember the most.

Jaidyn Tooley said there was never a dull moment when Spencer was around.

“He was always happy and his cheeky smile — he pulls girls with that smile,” Jaidyn said.

“He was loyal to everyone and mature for his age, he never turned down a night with the boys.”

Spencer’s love for rapper Kendrick Lamar earned him the nickname “Lamar”.

He was always describing things as “red hot”, “lush boi” or saying “like it’s Lamar”.

The youngster played football for Kiewa in the thirds team and was a keen snowboarder.

Those closest to him formed a circle as a large wooden cross was hammered into the ground.

Spencer’s parents and older brother laid the first flowers over which they huddled together for a moment with just the family.

Then the tributes flowed as snap-back hats were hung from the cross and a photo of Spencer was placed at the base in a sea of flowers.

Boards were passed around and signed with heart-felt messages to the teenager before red-and-orange balloons were released.

Spencer’s friends laughed as they talked about the new mittens he had just bought for the snow and how he always dressed like a “tradie” even though he was still at school.

But they were sad to think he would miss his deb next week, his first day at his plumbing apprenticeship he had just taken and the snow trip they had planned.

Darcy Edgar said Spencer, one of his best mates, had been taken too soon.

“We love and miss him,” he said.

Border Mail, Wodonga