Peter Yelland honours wife Kerry’s dream of raising boys on farm

Like most farming families, Peter and Kerry Yelland had endured a tough year on the land. But 2020 started with promise including a family holiday to the Gold Coast. But tragedy struck the popular Parkes couple just 10 minutes from home.

Like most families living on the land, it had been a tough year for Peter and Kerry Yelland.

But the new year provided a fresh start for the couple having just enjoyed a driving holiday to the Gold Coast with sons Harry, nine, Sam, six, and George, four. It was not only a chance to make memories but to celebrate Mrs Yelland’s 38th birthday.

The family – well known in agricultural circles in Parkes in the state’s central west – were just 10 minutes from home when debris from an oncoming truck hit the family’s Toyota Prado, striking Mrs Yelland who was sitting in the front passenger seat.

Kerry and Peter Yelland with their children Harry, nine, Sam, six, and George, four. Mrs Yelland was killed in a freak accident as the family was driving home to Parkes. Picture: Supplied

The mother of three was treated at the scene by emergency services, but could not be saved.

A devastated Mr Yellan told The Sunday Telegraph he vows to honour his wife’s dream of raising their three boys on a farm.

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“It happened really fast. I haven’t had time to get my head around it,” Mr Yelland said.

“There are a million things I’d like to say about her.

“She was ambitious and we had lots of dreams together and now they are out the window. “Her dream was to bring the boys up on a farm.

“We had just purchased a property near my family’s farm at Manildra (in partnership with my family).

“She would definitely like to give the boys the opportunity to be raised on a farm as she was.”

Mrs Yelland had just enjoyed a family holiday to the Gold Coast where they celebrated her 38th birthday. Picture: Supplied

Mr Yelland told The Sunday Telegraph his wife was an amazing woman, one of four siblings who grew up on a farm in Tullamore.

“She was everything anyone could want in a woman. She was beautiful and happy and laid-back. She wasn’t judgmental. She was a caring mother and a great friend to many,” he said.

The couple first met at the Parkes Picnic Races where it was “love at first sight for me but maybe not for her”.

“We started seeing each other straight away and married in Parkes in 2007,” he said.

On Wednesday, Harry began Year 4 and Sam Year 1, while George started preschool.

Mr Yelland hoped this would begin to establish some kind of normality.

“I am getting terrific support from family and friends. All the boys have started school,” he said.

Police at the scene of the accident in which Mrs Yelland was killed. Picture: TNV Chris Williams

“The boys are not yet asking questions but I have good people around giving me support and advice on how to handle the situation and manage the boys.

“Getting them into a routine and school and some sort of normality is our focus at the moment.”

Mr Yelland and his wife ran an agricultural consultancy from Parkes, and after a tough year of record drought, they took the kids to the Gold Coast for a holiday and to celebrate Mrs Yelland’s 38th birthday on January 21.

The 52-year-old driver of the truck, a local Parkes man, was charged with drive unsafely loaded vehicle causing death.

Parkes mayor Ken Keith said the community was reeling from the tragedy.

“Kerry was a lovely person with three boys to look after. Peter is a highly respected cricketer. The community is devastated and our hearts go out to Peter and his family,” Mr Keith said.

“The driver is also a local and he is distraught.”