Shani Hando: Peak Hill crash victim’s mum pays tribute

A woman has told of the horrific devastation and despair she felt when identifying her beloved daughter’s body at a crash site just days after Christmas.

Shani Hando died after a car she was in crashed at Peak Hill. Picture: Facebook

A little more than a week ago Donna Hando was celebrating Christmas with her daughter Shani and now she’s about to start preparing the Peak Hill mother of two’s funeral.

Shani, 34, was killed on December 28 after she was ejected from a Holden Barina which was travelling in on the Tomingley West Road, 60 kilometres south of Dubbo.

Shani Hando died when the car she was in rolled on the Tomingley West Road. Picture: Facebook

Police say the car, which was driven by one of Sharni’s friends, left the roadway and rolled multiple times before landing on its roof at about 8.30am.

After Donna was told of Shani’s death, she travelled to the crash scene and met with police.

“I said ‘that’s my baby, I need to be with her’ so they took me out and I formally identified her.

“It was horrific … it’s something I’ll never forget.

“I’ve had a lot of heartache and pain in my life, nothing could ever compare to that scene.”

Donna said she’d been told Shani and her friend were on their way to buy cigarettes when tragedy struck.

“It’s only natural that I’m going to have some sort of anger but I don’t have any animosity or blame that girl.

“There’s no way I would do that, that poor girl … just living with this would have to be enough because I don’t think I could.”

Shani Hando (right) pictured with her brother Torin, mum Donna and two children. Picture: Facebook

Donna said Shani would be remembered as a talented and compassionate person who always put her children first.

“I just thought she was destined to do so much more and I just never thought her end would be like that,” she said.

“She had a lot of big plans for this year. She started martial arts with her son.

“Her two babies were her passion, they were her life and she worked and paid a house off so she owned it in three years for her babies.”

Parkes & District Amateur Soccer Association Inc. would like to send out our deepest sympathies to the family and...

Posted by Parkes & District Amateur Soccer Association Inc. on Wednesday, December 30, 2020

Shani’s drive and determination to achiever her goals led her to establish the Peak Hill Boomerang Cafe which became a popular destination for hungry locals and tourists alike.

“She saved and worked and leased a shop here in town and renovated it a bit,” Donna said.

“She was the cook at the bowling club and she brought in a lot of business and a lot of customers and they all loved her.

“She liked everybody, it didn’t matter what walk of life they came from. If someone was short in the shop and didn’t have enough money for their food she’d say ‘don’t worry’ and she’d give it to them. ”

Shani and her brother Torin Hando. Picture: Facebook

Donna said soccer, birds, nature, photography and her Aboriginal culture were passions Shani shared with her children.

“She loved soccer, she’d been playing since she was a child and never stopped,” she said

“She could paint and do so much, she even built her own bar in the backyard.”

Shani’s children Beau Hando-Wrigley, 8, and Archer Hando-Wrigley, 2, have struggled to accept their mothers death and started asking questions.

“The elder boy has been upset, he was angry, he had a little breakdown but he’s got a lot of older cousins and they’ve been keeping him occupied,” Donna said.

Shani’s brother Torin Hando said she was the best big sister he could have ever asked for.

“We are overwhelmed by the love and support from the community,” he said.

Through a GoFundMe page set up by a family friend, more than $18,000 has been raised to cover Shani’s funeral costs and help Beau and Archer.

“We are lost for words, we just want everyone to know that we appreciate everything that they have done and continue to do,” Torin said.

“It will not be forgotten.”

A funeral date for Sharni is yet to be announced.