Two Sydney schoolboys have been confirmed dead in the New Zealand volcano eruption, taking the Australian death toll in the natural disaster to seven.
Matthew Hollander, 13, and his brother Berend (known as Ben), 16, were killed while they visited White Island on Monday.
The news was confirmed in a statement from their school, Knox Grammar, who said the teenagers had the world at their feet.
"Matthew was involved in cadets and representing the school in basketball, squash and debating," the statement read. "He was elected as a Mentor Representative in 2018/19. Matthew had a close circle of friends and was popular amongst his peers.
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"Ben's engaging smile and quirky sense of humour made him a good mate to his close group of friends and a welcome member to every classroom."
"Please keep the family, their relatives and the rest of Knox community in your prayers and thoughts."
Heartbreakingly, the boy's parents, Martin and Barbara, remain unaccounted for.
Some of the other Australians confirmed dead include Julie Richards, 47, and her daughter Jessica Richards, 20, both from Brisbane, Adelaide man Gavin Dallow, and Jason Griffiths from Coffs Harbour.
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