$1 million raised for victims and families of the Hunter bus tragedy
Three weeks after the devastating Hunter Valley bus crash which claimed 10 lives, a number of fundraising initiatives are helping to ease the burden on those impacted.
NSW
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After witnessing the tragedy of the Hunter Valley bus crash, members of the public, business community and government have raised an astonishing $1 million for the victims and their families.
The Hunter Valley Bus Tragedy Fund — established by the NSW government and Rotary Australia — was set up to support the survivors of the crash, the families of those who lost their lives, and the local community rocked by the unspeakable tragedy.
Boosted by a $100,000 donation from Premier Chris Minns on behalf of the government, the fund has already distributed $480,000 to those in need.
The initial payments to survivors and next-of-kin families are expected to be used for expenses for travel and accommodation to attend the funerals of those lost.
The July 11 crash took the lives of 10 wedding guests after the union of Madeleine Edsell and Mitchell Gaffney.
The wedding guests were on their way home to Singleton when the coach rolled near the Hunter Expressway off-ramp at Greta.
A local committee has been established with representatives from Singleton Council, Singleton Sunrise Rotary Club, Singleton Roosters AFL Club, Warrandyte-Donvale Rotary Club and Warrandyte Cricket Club to determine how best the funds raised are distributed, and is yet to distribute the remaining $520,000.
Several of the victims were members of the Singleton Roosters, with Rose Point Park home ground becoming a meeting place for those shattered by the event to grieve and support each other.
Several of those injured were members of the Warrandyte Cricket Club in Victoria, with the groom a former player for the club. A focus of the committee in the coming weeks will be the two young boys who are now orphans after their parents, Andrew and Lynan Scott, were killed in the crash.
The children are just two and four. A separate GoFundMe has also been set up for the children, and has already raised $295,000.
The parents will be farewelled on Saturday at a private ceremony at a family property in Blaxlands Creek.
“We are overwhelmed with the response we’ve received so far from members of the public,” Rotary Australia director David Pearson said.
“These funds will be able to provide benevolent assistance to the people who are directly affected and their immediate families. With such a remarkable contribution, we’ll look at the total funds raised and continue to distribute the funds to those directly impacted in the most equitable and timely way possible.”
The government is working with councils, and discussions are under way over a possible physical memorial or memorial event. The Rotary fund will remain open until the end of July. Members of the public looking to support the families and injured through a donation are encouraged to visit nsw.gov.au or rawcs.org.au
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