June 14th 2023.
Loved ones are paying tribute to the ten people who tragically lost their lives in the devastating Hunter Valley wedding bus crash, Australia's deadliest road accident in a generation. Sunday night's crash also left 25 people injured, two gravely. The bus driver, 58-year-old Brett Button, now faces a number of 'very serious' charges and was granted bail in Cessnock Local Court yesterday.
The bus had been returning from the wedding reception of Mitchell Gaffney and Maddy Edsell at the nearby Wandin Valley Estate when it overturned at a roundabout near Greta. NSW Police family liaison officers will continue to speak to the families and the victims but formal identification could yet take days.
The families and friends of the victims have been left in shock and devastation, and are now coming together to remember and pay tribute to their loved ones.
Kane Symons, a keen surfer and travel enthusiast aged 21, has been remembered as a 'beautiful, caring' man. His sister said in a statement, “Kane was a beautiful, kind and caring young man. He spent most of his time at the beach as an avid surfer who travelled far and wide in search of a good wave. He was a leader, a great bloke and a mate to many. He put a smile on everyone's face with his cheekiness especially throughout the Tasmanian Surf Life Saving Community.” His presence, his sister said, “lifted all those around him and gave them permission to show their best side.” Kane was also a keen footballer, having previously played at Lauderdale and then at Horsham Football Club and his current club, the Singleton Roosters.
Darcy Bulman, a Melbourne woman, has been remembered by her former employer, KPMG, as a “very capable professional and a wonderful colleague”. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has confirmed that special counselling arrangements will be organised for her close colleagues.
Rebecca Mullen, a junior doctor based at Calvary Mater Hospital, has been remembered by NSW Health Minister Ryan Park as “one of our team members”. Park said, “It is a really sad day for NSW Health that we have lost one of our team members. It is sad for those paramedics who are now dealing with incredible burden and pain and anguish in the images and the challenging circumstances they were dealing with.” He also said he was “really proud” of all of the paramedics who attended the scene.
Nadene and Kyah McBride, a mother and daughter from Singleton, were also killed in the crash. Nadene coached the Roosterettes, the club's women's squad, according to its website. The Sydney Women's AFL Masters Facebook page posted a tribute to them both, saying “Our women's masters football community is shocked and saddened by the tragic news that Nadene McBride and her daughter Kyah have now been named as having passed away in the Singleton wedding bus crash. Our thoughts and sympathy extend to all the friends, families and teammates of Nads and Kyah and the Singleton football community.”
Married Singleton couple, Andrew and Lynan Scott, have also been named as victims. Both played for the Singleton Roosters, with Andrew reaching the 100-game milestone last year. In a tribute article on the club website, his teammates described him as one of the best they'd ever played with.
Tori Cowburn, Lynan's fellow Roosterette, is also unaccounted for after the crash. Cowburn was an outstanding footballer, captaining and winning a best and fairest for the premiership-winning Roosterettes.
Byron Bay man Zachary Bray, who was killed in the crash, was a bowel cancer survivor and an ambassador with The Gut Foundation.
The sporting and wider community continues to mourn, with a number of locals caught up in the tragedy. AFL side Sydney Swans will wear black armbands when they take to the field this week in memory of the victims. The Sydney Swans extended their condolences to the families and friends of those involved in the tragedy, saying “Many of those involved are connected to the Singleton AFL club, while there is also a connection to the QBE Sydney Swans Academy program, and therefore the wider Swans community.”
Our thoughts and condolences go out to the families and friends of those affected by this tragedy.
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