Kerrie VanTijn: Moss Vale horsewoman and trainer dies in Mittagong crash, aged 47

An ‘adventurous’ race horse trainer is being remembered as a ‘kind, caring’ woman with an infectous laugh after she died on one of her rides after getting her motocycle licence.

Despite only moving to the Southern Highlands in the last 18 months, talented horsewoman Kerrie VanTijn’s impact on the community and beyond will be long-lasting.

Ms VanTijn, who was 47, died instantly when her bike collided with an SUV while going around a bend on Old South Rd in Mittaging on January 16.

Her daughter, Lauren VanTijn, told The Bowral News her mother had just recently gotten her motorbike licence to surprise her partner who also had one.

Kerrie VanTijn (centre) with her children, Lauren and Josh.

“She called me on Saturday before she was going there on Sunday and all she could talk about was how excited she was to get out on this bike and really have a go,” Ms VanTijn said.

She was riding with her partner and a friend, who were in front of her when the incident occurred.

Ms VanTijn described her mum as a very loveable person.

“Everybody knows her as the most kind, caring, strong-willed and adventurous woman around,” Ms VanTijn said.

“She always put smiles on people’s faces, always had a laugh and once she set her mind to a task, there was no stopping her.”

Her latest adventure brought her to Moss Vale only 18 months ago, where she devoted her time to working as a manager for The Chase farm in Sutton Forrest – a thoroughbred spelling and rehabilitation facility for racehorses owned by China Horse Club.

Kerrie VanTijn, with her racehorse In The Fast Lane, had a passion for racing.

“Mum loved the challenge of coming here to NSW, she used to train race horses and gave up her trainer life to be able to focus on building this property,” Ms VanTijn said.

“She wanted to give her body a break from horse racing.

“She was moving boulders for the property to get that up and running and what she’s done is amazing.”

Originally from McLaren Vale in South Australia, Ms VanTijn started riding race horses when she was 15 and had been doing so her entire life.

“None of the family was involved with race horses before my mum,” Ms VanTijn said.

“I always remember hearing stories from my grandmother where she would find her going out to the neighbours property, jumping on the horses bareback even as a young girl.

“And nana learnt very quickly that mum had a strong passion for horses, and helped her grow that passion.”

She worked as a vet nurse in between her horse racing career, and then got her horse training license 12 years ago and had been doing that for a decade.

Ms VanTijn said her mum’s first winner was Currency Cougar, and her best horse was the eight-time winner In The Fast Lane.

Trainer David Hayes was a mentor for Kerrie VanTijn. Picture: Vince Caligiuri

Trainer Wally Tonkin gave Kerrie VanTijn his racing colours after he retired.

She used to work with horse trainers like Melbourne Cup-winning trainer David Hayes, as well as Wally Tonkin, who Ms VanTijn regarded as a “father/grandfather figure” while growing up.

“The colours my mum trained in – the red and black stripes with white sleeves – those were Wally Tonkin’s that he gave my mum when he stopped training and she started,” Ms VanTijn said.

Prior to her departure from South Australia, Ms VanTijn had been dedicated to work at Squillani Park, a highly regarded horse property in the Adelaide Hills working for the late Terry Board.

Ms VanTijn’s passion for horses actually inspired her daughter to pursue a like-minded career.

“Mum was the one who taught me how to ride horses and to ride trackwork (riding on the racetrack),” Ms VanTijn said.

“I worked for her when she was a trainer and she really set up my career.”

Ms VanTijn recalled how her, her brother Josh and her mum were inseparable.

We were all so close, and mum and I were identical – there was always the joke that we look like twin sisters.

“And my mum’s mum, my nana, we were like three peas in a pod – three generations always together.”

Kerrie VanTijn enjoying down time with Lauren and Josh.

Before her mums’s death, Ms VanTijn moved from Victoria to NSW in July, and got to spend some quality time with her.

“It was tough when we didn’t see each other during Covid when mum moved down here, and when I had an accident where I broke my pelvis, mum told me to move down here and I got to be with her,” Ms VanTijn said.

Ms VanTijn said she was so proud of her mum jumping into the unknown by moving to NSW and making so many wonderful friendships in such a short amount of time.

Kerrie VanTijn with her beloved mum Jenny.

The team at Highlands Merchant in Moss Vale, a cafe that she would frequent often, shouted everyone “Kerrie’s coffee” for a day, and the money raised went towards a small memorial held for her at The Chase farm, which Ms VanTijn was grateful for.

“Kerrie started out as a customer but became a very good friend,” the cafe said in a statement.

“You can be having the worst day and you see your favourite customer and they just make it all better.

“We wanted to pay for the regulars that come in that have supported us as a business to show that we support them as a family member and friend, in honour of Kerrie and to show how much she means to us.”

When asked what Ms VanTijn’s legacy is, her daughter said it’s “to take every moment as it comes.”

Before her passing, Ms VanTijn was planning to get a tattoo on her back that said “time is precious, make every minute count.”