By that night Casey would die. A victim of a cruel illness from which no-one could save her.

The Maitland Grossmann High School student lost her hard-fought battle against depression on Saturday night. She was 17 and weeks away from celebrating the end of her Higher School Certificate.

But today Casey’s loved ones are mourning the loss of a kind-hearted teenager who poured out love and loyalty in equal measures.

As Casey’s home in Ashtonfield yesterday filled with friends, flowers and family, Casey’s parents Mark and Narelle and her sisters – Kelly, 22, and Amanda, 20 – spoke to the Mercury about their girl.

“Casey was shy and loyal, she liked sport and she looked up to her sisters a lot. She was well-liked at school,” Mrs Richardson said.

“She also loved her sport and up until recently she played netball, she loved swimming . . . she was a sporty kind of girl.”

Casey’s father, Mark, also recalls how his youngest daughter loved to put on her gumboots and play in the backyard.

“As a little girl Casey was always a bit of a tomboy. She loved getting outside and playing,” Mr Richardson said.

“She loved working in the shed and she was always very determined. Casey was also very arty, creative and when things were a challenge she wouldn’t let them get the better of her.”

But one challenge Casey couldn’t overcome was her unrelenting fight with depression.

“Casey battled with depression for about eight months,” Mrs Richardson said.

“And it was so hard for us to watch because it wasn’t who she was. She went from a girl who loved life, and a girl who really lived life, to a girl who had no motivation. She withdrew from us.

“It started off mildly but it got worse. Casey was supported, she had us, some really good, caring doctors . . . wonderful teachers, but in the end there was just nothing anyone could do. It all became too much for her.