Seymour College old collegians pay tribute to Sonya Irwin after dam tragedy
Alumni from a prestigious girls’ school have paid respects to the former boarder after her life was tragically cut short in a freak accident.
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Sonya Irwin has been remembered by her fellow Seymour College alumni as a smart, funny and glamorous woman, who was “full of life”.
Sadly, the much-loved wife and mother’s life was devastatingly cut short when a routine farm job went terribly wrong on the afternoon of Wednesday, April 9.
It is believed the 62-year-old went to the dam to start a pump to give water to the livestock when tragedy struck.
Police pulled her from the dam and she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Mrs Irwin and her husband James operated Balah Station, about 36kms north of Morgan, for 40 years. The couple, who are parents to Jamo and Skye, produced wool at their property and were well-respected and popular members of the community.
The Presbyterian Girls’ College/Seymour College Old Collegians’ Association has now paid its respects to one of its own.
The Association’s Facebook page posted a tribute to Mrs Irwin, who attended the college as a boarder from 1976 to 1980.
“Sonya is remembered by her collegiate peers as energetic, intelligent, opinionated, funny, smart, strong, glamorous, and full of life,” it read.
“A natural track and field athlete, Sonya also played tennis, netball, softball, and rowed – awarded pockets for both netball and softball (A grade).
“In her final year at Seymour, Sonya was Chief of Clan Stewart, and led with enormous energy and great vigour, winning the coveted annual sports day shield in 1980.”
The Association acknowledged Mrs Irwin’s family’s strong connection to the school, noting her two older sisters, Rebecca and Louise, and her younger sister Jane, as well as their mother Janine attended the school. Mrs Irwin’s daughter Skye, and nieces Montana and Morgan were also students.
As reported by The Advertiser last week, Mrs Irwin’s husband James described his wife as the backbone of their 65,000ha station.
“She was a great pastoralist, great stockman, clever business woman,” he said.
“She was basically the boss.
“She’s got an incredible mind.
“That’s what used to annoy me, because what she says is usually right.”
Their daughter Skye said her mum was “very passionate and dedicated to the land”.
“It was one of her biggest loves,” she said.
“She always knew this is what she wanted to be part of. This is a very special place to her.”
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Originally published as Seymour College old collegians pay tribute to Sonya Irwin after dam tragedy
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