Heartbreaking tributes to victims of Hunter Valley bus crash
A proud footy administrator her star player daughter. A revered athlete. A junior doctor with a promising career. A young couple with kids. A sporting superstar. A “radiant” accountant. A cancer survivor. An engineer.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A proud footy administrator and mentor and her star player daughter. A revered athlete known widely as Superman. A junior doctor at the beginning of a promising career. A young couple with tiny kids. A sporting superstar who excelled across several codes. A “radiant, ever glowing” accountant. A cancer survivor. An engineer.
Some were family, others were partners, many were friends and now all will be forever intertwined with an immeasurable tragedy which has engulfed a proud town straining under the pressure of incomprehensible grief.
The 10 victims of the horrific Hunter Valley Bus crash have been remembered through an outpour of loving tributes from family, friends, teammates, colleagues and community members in grief.
Nadene and Kyah McBride
Singleton local Nadene “Nads” McBride was described as “the best thing to ever happen to the Singleton Roosterettes” as a long-time valued member, former president and coach of the local football club.
Her passion for Aussie rules football can be seen in a heartbreaking video from April where she featured alongside her daughter Kyah, who also lost her life in the bus crash.
“As a coach my mum is amazing,” daughter Kyah said of her mother in the video.
“She gives us so much and she wants the best for you and most of all she just wants to see women playing footy.
“I couldn’t have a better person sitting in my corner. My mum is the best thing to ever happen to this club.”
Ms McBride said in the video her daughter is “an amazing player.”
“Kyah’s football brain is next level,” she said.
Kyah McBride will be remembered as a talented footballer, treasured member of the Singleton women’s team and a local electrician.
She was also selected to represented the Sydney Swans in the Summer Series competition and the Sydney Women’s AFL Masters.
A Sydney Women’s AFL Masters representative posted a tribute to the pair saying they were “shocked and saddened” by the loss of two valued footballers.
“Our women’s masters football community is shocked and saddened by the tragic news that Nadene (Nads) 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.”
Friend Amelia Alverez posted a touching tribute mourning the loss of “one of the most beautiful, kind hearted people” she had known.
“My heart is broken, I’m lost for words,” she said.
“Your smile and energy was infectious, you were loved by so many.
“Thank you for the many years of friendship, and all the care and support you gave me throughout the years.”
Daughter to Nadene and sister to Kyah, Jamie Butters said: “my mind’s still trying to comprehend everything. My heart is heavy with pain.”
The extended McBride family issued a statement on Tuesday evening calling for privacy as they “grieve and process this tragedy as a family unit.”
“There are no words to describe the grief our family is feeling at this time, which is why we would like to formally decline any requests for media interviews,” the statement said.
“For those choosing to run the images of our family members, we wish to advise the media of our Indigenous heritage and ask that the publication of those images is accompanied by the appropriate warning.”
Father to Kyah and husband to Nadene, Graham “Banger” McBride was also on-board the bus and one of the 25 injured in the crash.
He is in hospital being treated.
Kane Symons
Tasmanian Kane “Superman” Symons has been remembered as a “great bloke, mate to many” and beloved member of sporting clubs across the country.
He was a member of the Carlton Park Surf Life Saving Club, with Club President Christine Gaby issuing a statement on Tuesday on the Symons family’s behalf.
“CPSLSC are heartbroken to hear of the tragic passing of Kane Symons in the Hunter Valley bus tragedy,” Ms Gaby said.
“We send our love and support to Steve, Sarn and Jaimie.
“Kane, otherwise known as ”Superman” was an amazing athlete who competed at the highest level. But more than that he was a leader, a great bloke and a mate to many. We adored him and he will be truly missed.”
Mr Symons was also a former member of the Lauderdale Football Club, with the sporting organisation remembering him as “ a popular member”.
“The Lauderdale Football Club offers our deepest sympathy to the family of ex player Kane Symons who tragically lost his life in the Hunter bus tragedy. Kane was a friend to some of our current playing group and was a popular member during his time with Lauderdale.”
Tasmanian Premier Jeremy Rockcliff paid tribute to the champion-lifesaver and said he was “taken far too soon.”
Mr Symons was a member of the Singleton Roosters men’s team, after moving to the Hunter Region.
Colleagues of Mr Symons dropped flowers to the crash site on Tuesday and left a note to their friend.
“Rest in peace Kane. You will be greatly missed. Love all your work mates,” the note said.
Andrew and Lynan Scott
Andrew “Chisel” Scott from Queensland was a former long-time member of the Redland-Victoria Point Sharks Football Club.
“The football community is mourning the loss of former player Andrew Scott and his wife Lynan who passed away in the Hunter Valley this week,” a tribute from the club read.
“Chisel, as he was known, played for the Bombers in 2014 alongside his brother Luke.
“He was a terrific member of our community both on and off the field and was characterised by his big heart and willingness to help anyone.”
He represented the Hunter Central Coast Region in AFL and went on to become a playing coach for the Singleton Roosters where he played over 100 games.
His wife Lynan Scott was an AFL player representing the Hunter Central Coast Region and a member of the Singleton Roosters club.
In 2014 she was offered a two-year graduate engineering position at Mt Thorley, prompting the couple to move to Singleton.
The pair are survived by their two children.
Rebecca Mullen
Rebecca Mullen was a junior doctor with Hunter New England Health who NSW Health Minister Ryan said had a “long and illustrious career” ahead of her.
She was also a member of the Singleton Roosters AFL Club as well as former player of the New England Nomads UNE Australian football Club.
“We are extremely saddened by the tragic news that one of our former players Bec Mullen died in the bus crash in the Hunter on Sunday,” a statement from the club said.
“Bec was an extremely active member of the club, a wonderfully talented sportswoman and a friend to all who knew her. We offer our sincere condolences to her friends and family.”
Her fiance Sam Howard, who was also at the wedding, posted a heartbreaking tribute photo on Facebook on Tuesday of he, his fiance and their dog.
It is understood the pair were living in Newcastle.
Zach Bray
Byron Bay man Zach Bray, originally from Sydney’s Northern Beaches, was diagnosed in 2019 with bowel cancer at the age 25 and as a result became an ambassador for The Gut Foundation.
He worked as a Hunter Valley mining engineer and played in the Singleton Roosters AFL team with groom Mitchell Gaffney, Kane Symons and Sam Howard.
Friend Shelby Wale posted a touching tribute to his “mate”.
“Love you forever mate, that big bright smile will be so-so missed,” he said.
Tori Cowburn
Tori Cowburn was a beloved member of the Singleton Roosters AFL club and Roosterettes Team as both a player and coach.
She was known as a brilliant sportswoman who excelled across a range of codes, including Aussie rules and netball.
She also worked as a plant operator at Mt Thorley coal mine.
Darcy Bulman
Darcy Bulman was described as a successful, young Melbourne woman was living her dream life and will be remembered as “always glowing”.
“She was radiant, always glowing brightly, very genuine and always there for anybody in need,” friend Justin Mack told the Herald Sun.
Ms Bulman studied accounting at La Trobe University from 2012 to 2015 before scoring a job at KPMG Australia.
She left the company in 2020 and began working as an investigator at the Australian Securities and Investments Commission from their Collins St office in the CBD.
A KPMG spokeswoman said Ms Bulman was a “wonderful colleague”.
“Darcy was a very capable professional and a wonderful colleague in our forensic team,” she said.
“When she moved to ASIC, Darcy continued to build a successful career.
“Our thoughts are with Darcy’s family and friends at this very difficult time.”
Angus Craig
Angus Craig will be remembered by friends as a keen surfer, paraglider and sailer.
Originally from Jervis Bay on the south coast of NSW, he moved to Brisbane where according to his LinkedIn, he worked as a reliability engineer for BHP.
Additional reporting by Brooke Grebert-Craig, Regan Hodge and Mitchell Clarke.
Originally published as Heartbreaking tributes to victims of Hunter Valley bus crash
We found Australia’s most wanted man in luxury Sydney hotel
Deported from Dubai just a fortnight ago, Hells Angels bikie boss Angelo Pandeli is free to come and go from his luxury digs, despite being wanted as a “serious and organised” crime target.
Industrial complex blaze destroys multiple businesses
At least five businesses in an industrial complex near Liverpool have been hit by a huge blaze, with up to 100 firefighters battling it from every angle. Watch the video.