Debbie Markey was driving four international workers from the JBS Foods abattoir in Cobram home on Thursday in Strathmerton, near the New South Wales border.
The five of them and a dog were all killed instantly when a Mercedes driver allegedly failed to give way, and pushed her Nissan Navara into the path of a milk tanker.
The 62-year-old was a mother of one, and her son described her as “a ridiculously fun energetic person” who “had time for everyone”.
“Her life has not been easy but she really found her purpose looking after these foreign nationals.
“A very proud mum and a great chef,” the 25-year-old, who did not want to be identified, said.
The workers killed in the car crash were from Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Friends also paid tribute to Markey, describing her kind nature.
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“Very loving person, loved her family, loved her friends, animals, she was just a very caring type of person,” Paul Ukich said.
“She was always there for everybody else cheering everyone else on when she was fighting her own demons you know,” Cindy Pinner added.
Christopher Dylan Joannides has been charged with five counts of dangerous driving causing death over the state’s deadliest crash since 2012.
The Doncaster man had been caught speeding about 18km/h over the limit less than an hour before the crash, police allege.
He was questioned for 40 minutes before being released with a fine.
Just three minutes later he allegedly failed to give way on Murray Valley Highway, pushing Mackey and her passengers into the path of a truck.
Joannides faced the Shepparton Magistrates Court yesterday afternoon and was granted bail.
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