THE eight-year-old survivor of Sunday's Babinda crash that killed her mother and grandfather is fighting back from her serious injuries and leg surgery, friends said.

Kurrimine Beach's Hannah Hassem was in a serious but stable condition in Cairns Base Hospital's intensive care unit yesterday, with family members by her side.

Relieved friends said they believed she had been cleared of any head injury concerns and they were "taking that as a very positive sign".

Hannah was the only survivor in her family's car when it and a four-wheel-drive collided head-on on the Bruce Highway just south of Babinda.

The crash has rocked Babinda, Kurrimine Beach and Silkwood.

Her mother, Kay Hassem, 34, and her grandfather Babinda WWII veteran Doug Humphries, 92, died at the accident scene.

Silkwood's St John's Catholic Primary School principal Andrew Maley said devastated teachers, students and their parents had held a special liturgy to pray for Hannah and had been making cards and sending balloons to her.

They had also held an impromptu memorial service for Mrs Hassem who had been an active member of the school's Parents and Friends Association and the district’s indigenous community parent liaison officer for catholic schools, he said.

Mr Maley said he expected "more formal events" at the school later in the week.

"Kay was a very well-known face around the school and was often here working in different capacities, and Hannah is an absolutely wonderful child, a talented all-rounder," he said.

Babinda RSL sub-branch members yesterday said they were expecting the funeral service for Mr Humphries to be held next week.

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