Grief at son’s Bribie 4WD death inspires amazing safety campaign

The family of Harrison Payne, who died in a 4WD rollover on Bribie Island, have spoken out about their grief two years after his death and the amazing legacy it has inspired.

Today will be two years to the day since the Payne family’s world was turned upside down — forever.

On May 30, 2021, Harrison Payne, who had only three weeks earlier celebrated his 18th birthday, was killed when a 4WD driven by Lynden Joshua Roby rolled on a Bribie Island beach, killing “Harry’’ as he was known to all.

Ahead of this Saturday’s Deadlift For Harry annual fundraiser at World Gym Burpengary, his father Kent Payne has opened up about the family’s heartache, their vision to help others and to tackle the road toll.

Since The Harrison Payne Initiative was registered as a not-for-profit in November 2021, the Paynes have raised more than $80,000 for families of other road crash victims and supported numerous road safety events.

“Greg Price, who was the investigating officer for Harry’s case, has joined our board and puts us in touch with families he thinks we can help,’’ Mr Payne said.

Harrison “Harry’’’ Payne had been 18 for just three weeks when his life was tragically taken. Picture Facebook

Mr Payne said one of their goals was for every car in Australia to one day carry a HKP03 bumper sticker.

Four thousand had already been distributed, including Moreton-area police cars.

They had also distributed 20,000 road safety brochures to primary schools, held safety awareness events at beaches, given away free driving lessons to learners and set up an impressive website.

Kent and Kylie Payne at their son Harrison’s memorial, in their front garden at Burpengary East.

“I’m effectively working two jobs,’’ he said.

“This is now (wife) Kylie’s full-time job. She has never returned to work and I doubt she ever will, so this is what she does now.

“(Their children) Noah and Emily are also on the (HPI) board and help out a lot as well.

“We will never go away. I will be here forever, for as long as I’m breathing oxygen, because the carnage on our roads is unbelievable and it just has got to stop.’’

Mr Payne said the anniversary of Harry’s death would be a quiet day of reflection for the family, but his 20th birthday celebration on May 8 was a large, poignant event for family and friends.

“I took the day off work. It was a tough day,’’ Mr Payne said.

“Harry’s friends were involved, we did a cake and at 7pm we light candles, including ones we sell on our website to raise funds, to remember Harry and livestreamed it on Instagram.

“I go to counselling once a fortnight with Kylie, Noah and Emily. I guess we will keep doing so for years to come.

“Some days are worse than others. The counsellor has told us we will never recover, but you learn to live with it and because Harry was so strong we are trying to be strong for him.’’

The driver of the 4WD, Lynden Joshua Roby, was due to be released on parole later this year after being sentenced in November last year to three years’ jail, suspended after nine months, for dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death.

The logo of the not-for-profit, which has raised more than $80,000.

The court heard Roby, then 18, had performed “power slides”, doughnuts and fishtails and had been seen to become airborne several times before his Toyota HiLux crashed, rolling on the driver’s side about 4.30pm.

Crown prosecutor Philip McCarthy told the court during Roby’s sentencing that he had shown “no insight” following the crash.

Roby, now aged 20, was booked for a number of traffic offences including performing doughnuts in a building estate, speeding through a school zone, going through red lights and driving unlicensed.

“I don’t think about him. He does not get one minute of our thinking, then or ever,’’ Mr Payne said.

“We would not be here now if he had not done what he did.’’

Kent and Kylie Payne stand in the middle of 274 hearts, one for each death recorded on Queensland roads in 2021. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Mr Payne said the family had been working extra hard recently to prepare for the Deadlift For Harry fundraiser on June 3 at World Gym, which was also celebrating its fifth year in business.

Harry was a regular at the gym, which had helped the family’s fundraising.

Hundreds were expected at the community event, open to the public.

it was HPI’s major fundraising initiative with a goal of raising more than $10,000 this year.

Details, merchandise and more on the HPI website.