Brooke Dalton: Sergeant’s heartfelt tribute to crash victim

A police officer close to the family of a woman tragically killed earlier this week has spoken of the enormous achievements she made in her short lifetime.

Brooke’s mother Ann-Maree, top right, said her daughter was selfless and loving.

The friend of a young woman who tragically lost her life earlier this week has shared some of his beloved memories and recalled some of her greatest achievements.

Brooke Dalton was the driver of a car that struck the back of a stationary truck in Dalby.

She sadly died at the scene.

Sergeant Mick Hughes, who worked at the Dalby PCYC from 2012 to 2018, met ‘Brookie’ when she was just 12 years old and remembered her as someone who was “capable of anything”.

“She never let us down, even if she was facing something that was hard for her,” he said.

“She saw the club as a place of safety which is exactly what it was and a place of fun, which she certainly had in the six years I saw her there.”

Brooke Dalton and the Dalby PCYC team helped build four homes in Cambodia in 2015. Picture: contributed

Sergeant Hughes said in the “thousands” of hours she volunteered there, Brooke would help clean up the club, assist at sausage sizzles and even took part in an epic journey to Cambodia where the group built homes for the community.

“Brooke’s tour was one of the first groups to build houses, the conditions were hot and horrible and the kids just had a ball,” he said.

“I was speaking with one of (Brooke’s) friends just the other day and she said ‘I can’t believe we went to Cambodia and had the best time together and now she’s just gone’.

“If you look at her short life of 23 years, that’s a significant milestone that she took, it’s a great part of her legacy.”

Sergeant Hughes said right up until her passing Brooke was working within the community and was well known.

“She became a young woman in her own right,” he said.

He recalled a memory of Brooke on their Cambodia trip that encapsulated the type of young woman she was.

Brooke Dalton and the Dalby PCYC team helped build four homes in Cambodia in 2015. Picture: contributed

“We took a photo of Brooke at a temple, and there are always little kids selling you stuff,” he said

“When we got there we told the kids ‘listen if those kids grab you, you’ll have 10 of them on you and they won’t let go so be careful’.

“And of course Brookie couldn’t help herself and there’s this lovely photo of her with this little girl who was selling $1 trinkets to pay for food, and of course there’s Brooke standing with them, with the most beautiful smile on the two of them.”

Sergeant Hutchins referred to the recent event as a “horrible tragedy”.

“The community has lost a nice soul,” he said.

Mum, Ann-Maree Dalton (far left), and dad Terry Dalton (far right) pictured with Brooke. Picture: contributed

Brooke’s mother, Ann-Maree paid tribute to her daughter and spoke of her selfless and loving nature.

“She loved her brothers fiercely as she did the rest of her family,” Mrs Dalton said.

“She helped save her youngest brother Jack’s life following a major tonic-clonic seizure.”

Ann-Maree said her daughter’s best trait was also sometimes her downfall.

Brooke Dalton, 23, was tragically killed early hours of November 1 when a car struck a stationary prime mover in Dalby. Picture: Facebook

“She always looked for the good in people even though it sometimes put her in harm's way, but she never backed down an inch.”

“She was our only daughter and her father’s girl, and as tough as teak.

“She would give the shirt off her back and absolutely adored babies and loved with her whole heart.”

Brooke’s mother said her daughter’s tragic passing “has left a gaping hole in our hearts”.

Childhood photo of Justin (left), Brooke (middle) and Jack Dalton (right). Picture: contributed

One of Brooke’s best friends, Shane Williams shared his favourite things about his late friend.

Shane said he met Brooke four years ago at a party and were close ever since.

“She would always light up the room when she walked in with the biggest smile and glow from her face,” he said.

“Brooke loved her loud music in the car, her dog Xena who we called ‘Beenie’.

“She was always an outgoing happy girl and if there were a bad situation she would lift the mood and spread her happiness just to see others smile and be happy.”

Shane referred to Brooke as someone with a big heart and spoke of their close friendship.

“She was my best friend, my human diary, my rock and she always cared,” he said.

“I will never ever forget her laugh, it was so vivid.

“To be honest, she was truly one of a kind.”

Other Dalby residents have rallied to pay tribute to the young woman who friends remembered as an ‘amazing young woman’. 

 Police are appealing for anyone who may have seen the Holden Commodore in the area at the time, or who may have relevant dashcam footage to contact them.