Bar manager Jamie Morris killed in Bruce Hwy crash at Gordonvale

A Cairns mum killed when her car rolled on the Bruce Highway has been remembered as a fun-loving, humble and honest free spirit with a talent for bartending.

Jamie-Lee Morris behind the bar at the Mountain View Hotel in Little Mulgrave. Picture: Supplied

A Gordonvale mum killed when her car rolled on the Bruce Highway on Tuesday has been remembered as a fun-loving, humble and honest free spirit with a talent for bartending.

Jamie-Lee Morris, 31, was killed instantly when the Holden Rodeo she was driving crashed and flipped onto its roof on Tuesday, November 12.

Tributes have poured in for the 31-year-old bar manager who had worked at various Far North pubs, including the Mountain View Hotel and most recently the Parkview Tavern in Gordonvale.

Known as Trippy to some of her friends, the 31-year-old leaves behind six siblings, her six-year-old daughter and parents Greg and Pauline Morris.

Gordonvale woman Jamie-Lee Morris was killed in a single vehicle Bruce Highway crash on Tuesday, November 12. Picture: Supplied

Growing up in the Snowy Mountains town of Adaminaby Mr Morris said his daughter moved north about three years ago.

He said the whole family, expected to arrive in Gordonvale for the funeral, was “heart-struck”.

“She was very bubbly and free-spirited and a happy hippy,” he said.

“She is the one-of-a-kind daughter, she is not the black sheep, just the one free-spirited one, she was a beautiful girl and had a heart of gold.

“It’s a bit hard to comprehend, she is going to be missed and I didn’t realise how many friends she had.

“She gets along with everyone and likes to make the patrons feel welcome and goes out of her way to help anyone.”

Ellen Paul knew Ms Morris as the bar manager when playing gigs at the Mountain View.

“She was lovely and we took to her straight away, she was very nice and authentic and she put a lot of effort into her role out there,” she said.

Jamie-Lee Morris has been fondly remembered by those who knew her. Picture: Supplied Picture: Supplied

“And she was a very easy person to have a conversation with, she loved her daughter and spoke highly of her parents.”

Daneka Freeman paid tribute to her friend on social media on Wednesday following the accident.

“My heart is broken,” she wrote.

“You are without a doubt one of the loveliest, most amazing cocktail mixologists, even more outstanding Mumma and just down right most humble and honest humans we have been so fortunate to know.

“We will miss your carefree and beautiful presence every time we were fortunate to see you.”

Venue operator at Elixir Music Bar Bill Shields said Ms Morris was just a fun person to have around.

“She was too young and will be sadly missed,” he said.

Another friend Ian McPherson was rattled by the passing of Ms Morris and said he was “eternally grateful” for their time spent together.

“It just doesn’t seem real, when realisation takes hold, when words have no meaning, rest in peace Jamie,” he wrote.

Emergency services at the crash on the Bruce Highway, north of Gordonvale.

A 28-year-old woman who was a passenger in the Holden Rodeo was assessed at the scene before being taken to Cairns Hospital on Tuesday.

The Forensic Crash Unit is investigating the incident and on Thursday issued a fresh appeal for dashcam vision recorded on the Gordonvale section of the Bruce Highway at about 5pm.

Quote this reference number when providing information to police: QP2401945065.

Ms Morris is the 23rd person to lose their life on Far North roads this year in a 29.4 per cent increase on the 2023 number.

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Originally published as Bar manager Jamie Morris killed in Bruce Hwy crash at Gordonvale