Oatlands crash: Memorial for Abdallah children and Veronique Sakr

One year on after four ‘beautiful angels’ were mowed down by a drunk driver, a grieving father and uncle has shared the family’s vision for a memorial for the Abdallah kids and their cousin.

More details have emerged of a permanent memorial for the community to pay respects to the Abdallah children and their cousin who were killed at Oatlands on February 1.

February 1 marked a year since three of Danny Abdallah’s children Antony, 13, Angelina, 12, Sienna, 9, and their cousin Veronique Sakr, 11, were mowed down by drunk driver Samuel Davidson while they were walking to buy an ice cream at Bettington Rd outside the Oatlands Golf Club.

Mr Abdallah and his wife Leila, and Veronique’s mother Bridget, are consulting with Parramatta Council and the golf club to establish a memorial on the fairway, which would be visible from Bettington Rd.

Another option for a memorial being established at George Gollan Reserve, Oatlands, is being explored.

Antony Abdallah.

Angelina Abdallah.

Sienna Abdallah.

Veronique Sakr.

The family’s vision is for a non-religious garden blossoming with seasonal plants.

“It is place for the nation to go past and see these four beautiful angels who lost their lives to a drunk driver,’’ Mr Abdallah said.

“It’s not going to be a religious garden. What we want is landscaping that blossoms in February. They loved nature.’’

Mr Abdallah said the family had reached out to the golf club 10 months ago and are “hoping and praying’’ for a small parcel of land at the property where the community could mourn and pay respects to the youngsters.

“The impact means that that place has become a significant place,’’ Mr Abdallah said.

“This has been one of the worst tragedies in modern times.’’

Some of the messages left at the crash site at Bettington Rd after the tragedy on February 1. Picture: John Grainger

On Monday night, the Abdallah and Sakr families gathered with 1000 mourners at the site for a vigil on the first anniversary of their children’s death and shared prayers led by Maronite Bishop Antoine-Charbel Tarabay.

Bridget Sakr, with Danny and Leila Abdallah, talk to NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian before the start of a Mass at Our Lady of Lebanon Co-Cathedral, Harris Park, on January 29. Picture: Damian Shaw

Davidson, who was on a cocktail of drugs when he ploughed into the children, pleaded guilty in October and will be sentenced in March.

The Abdallah family has forgiven the 30-year-old and on Sunday, launched i4Give Day, which encourages others to reflect and heal from their own experiences of grief.

I think the reason we forgive, we no longer want to feel anger, revenge or bitterness,’’ Mr Abdallah said.

“When you forgive, you free yourself from the revenge.’’

The Abdallah and Sakr families release butterflies in honour of Antony, Angelina, Sienna and Veronique. Picture: Jenny Evans

He also thanked the community for their support over the past 12 months.

“We thank the community for their love and support and we realised the community of Parramatta, the way they responded with our tragedy, is the Australian spirit.’’

Parramatta Lord Mayor Bob Dwyer said the council was consulting closely with the family about a memorial and it would be raised at a meeting early this year.

He said the tragedy’s impact on the community endured.

People react at the crash sight after the fatality last February. Picture: John Grainger

“It’s been one year since four innocent lives were lost in one of the most tragic road incidents this country has seen, but the impact on the family and community is no less profound,’’ he said.

“We hope we can create a place of remembrance for the children’s families as well as the community.

“The Abdallah and Sakr families have shown such enormous strength over the past 12 months.’’

The memorial will be unveiled more than a year after the council installed a pedestrian guard rail at the Bettington Rd site of the fatal crash, while a roundabout at Bettington and York roads opened in December.

The golf club declined to comment.

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