NSW election: Oatlands crash victim mum Bridget Sakr reveals why she won’t recontest Strathfield

The mother of an Oatlands crash victim has revealed why she won’t recontest the upcoming state election after the premier previously vowed she’d run again and win.

Premier Dominic Perrottet and Bridget Sakr at the post-vote party after the February 12 by-election. Ms Sakr lost the race but the premier had vowed she’d run and win again in 2023. Picture: Damian Shaw

The mother of an Oatlands crash victim who ran in former NSW Labor leader Jodi McKay’s old seat in a by-election last year has decided to instead focus on her thriving business and family, after the premier previously vowed she’d run again and win.

Bridget Sakr is the mother of Veronique, who was ploughed down in 2020 when a drunk-driver in a ute mounted the footpath and fatally injured the 11-year-old, and her cousins Antony, Angelina and Sienna Abdallah.

Motivated to serve the community, Ms Sakr ran as the Liberal candidate in Jodi McKay’s old inner-city seat of Strathfield in a by-election last February, narrowly losing out to Labor’s Jason Yat-sen Li.

After it became clear Ms Sakr had missed out, Premier Dominic Perrottet vowed she would run again in this year’s state election and win the seat.

Ms Sakr, however, has had to put family first as it can now be revealed she has ruled herself out of the running to be the Liberals’ candidate.

Bridget Sakr, whose daughter Veronique died alongside the Abdallah children in the Oatlands crash, at her Strathfield ‘Quatre’, named in honour of the four children who died. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“There were a lot of factors that I’ve had to put first and make a priority in my life,” she said.

“And there’s only so much capacity to take on – even when working at 110 per cent – when you’ve also got your own grief.”

Ms Sakr revealed juggling one business, a charity she established and ongoing health issues affecting people close to her meant another run would have been a step too far. She owns Quatre cafe in Strathfield – named in honour of Veronique, and her three nieces and nephews who lost their lives — and HeartFELT (Families Experiencing Loss and Trauma), a grief-support charity.

The decision, Ms Sakr said, became crystallised when the appeal of Samuel Davidson – the driver who killed Veronique – was handed down in July, where his sentence was reduced by eight years.

“It was around the time the appeal verdict came down that I thought it (to run again) may be too much,” she said.

Bridget Sakr lost to Labor’s Jason Yat-sen Li in Jodi McKay’s old electorate of Strathfield. Picture: Tim Hunter.

“I give 100 per cent to everything I do and if I wanted to run again I would have to give something up, and there’s nothing at the moment I could lose, or give less time to.”

Business at Quatre has been flourishing and the demands are significant.

“We wanted to give back to the community,” Ms Sakr said.

“There’s a wall inside that says ‘love lives on’ – customers can come in with a photo of their loved one and attach it.”

Ms Sakr said it was all hands on deck at HeartFELT, which became a registered charity in September and helps almost 200 people, and she was trying to raise enough funds to create a scholarship for a local girl to study at Santa Sabina College, in honour of Veronique and the school she attended.

Bridget Sakr, (left) has lunch with Danny and Leila Abdallah at Quatre. The ‘love lives on’ wall and photos is pictured above. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Veronique Sakr, 11, was hit and killed together with three of her cousins by a drunk-driver in Oatlands, in Sydney's west. Picture: AAP

“HeartFELT is about helping people in grief – it’s about creating the space to feel acknowledged,” she said.

“It accompanies people in their grief post-funeral, after the adrenaline has worn off, which is when it often hits worse.”

The Liberal Party has yet to announce a candidate for Strathfield, although the electorate will be tough to prize away from Labor and Mr Yat-sen Li, who is well-respected and -liked in the community.

Ms Sakr, however, is wishing whoever takes on the task well.

(L-R) Craig Mackenzie, Bridget Sakr, Danny Abdallah, Leila Abdallah holding Selina, and Michael and Alex Abdallah in front. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“I really want to give them my support and provide any guidance they may need,” she said.

“If they want to pick up the phone I’ll certainly make sure I’m available.”

The Dominic Perrottet government, Ms Sakr said, retained her support.

“They’ve been there for 12 years and it would be unprecedented to go for another term, but I think they’ve done a great job,” she said.

“Elections are tough and people have different views, but let’s see what happens.”

Although March’s election has come too soon for Ms Sakr, she didn’t rule out a future candidacy, if the opportunity was to present itself.

“Let’s see what the future holds,” she said.