‘Forever proud’: Hundreds turn out to farewell Kurt Hourigan, who was killed in Ballarat mine collapse
Hundreds of mourners have gathered to pay tribute to “devoted” father Kurt Hourigan after he was killed in a mine collapse in Ballarat.
Victoria
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Hundreds of miners bowed their heads in silence, helmet to heart, creating a guard of honour as a hearse carrying their “best mate” drove across the local footy field.
Trentham was a sea of orange and yellow on Thursday morning as family, loved ones and colleagues poured into the small country town to pay tribute to a “devoted” father-of-four who was tragically killed in a mine collapse in Ballarat earlier this month.
Kurt Hourigan, 37, was pinned 500m underground following a collapse at the Ballarat Gold Mine late on March 13. His body was recovered from the mine about 6am the following morning.
Busloads of fellow miners arrived at the funeral about 10am, donned in high vis and helmets.
They stood side-by-side in silence as the coffin, topped with flowers and a single helmet, was slowly lowered into the hearse, as the Blues team song blared through the speakers.
Mourners were asked to wear a touch of pink to commemorate Mr Hourigan’s “little princess”, his six-year-old daughter Evie, and Carlton Football Club colours for his boys, Lucas, Noah and Harry.
Family members said the “loving” father chose to raise the three boys “as his own”, with the children now solely supported by their mum, Stephanie Coleiro.
“(They) are all enduring a future without the love, care and guidance of their wonderful dad,” they said.
The Bruthen man was laid to rest at the Trentham cemetery following the service.
Mr Hourigan loved his footy, often pulling on the boots for his local clubs Trentham Sainter and Bruthen in the Omeo District Football Netball League in the state’s High Country.
Loved ones previously described him as someone many “looked up to”.
“I still can’t believe you are gone. I have always looked up to you,” brother Reece Hourigan shared in a social media post.
“Thank you for all the good and bad memories we have shared together. I love you so much brother.”
Mr Hourigan’s grandma Patricia Becket said she will “forever be proud” of her grandson.
“Kurt, we are broken hearted that you are no longer with us. You were our second grandchild who we cherished dearly,” she said.
“We will always remember you for your funny quirky ways and we will forever be proud of you.”
Ms Coleiro said he will “never ever be forgotten”.
“You were the best mate I could ask for … we are so broken here without you,” she wrote.
“Our kids loved you so much, as you loved them. Love you and miss you so much mate.”
Mr Hourigan was working away from home to support his “beloved” children at the time of the incident.
He was two hours away from finishing his shift and returning home to his loved ones when the mine collapsed.
Miner, 21-year-old Connor Smith, was also left fighting for life following the collapse, where he remains in a serious but stable condition at Melbourne’s Alfred Hospital.
Another 29 workers involved in the collapse were able to make their way to an underground safety pod and escaped without injuries.
The fallout of the collapse continues to expose several major safety concerns raised by both union representatives and former workers.
Victorian branch secretary of the Australian Workers’ Union Ronnie Hayden had earlier begged the owners of the site to stop allowing miners to work on “unsupported” ground.
As revealed by the Herald Sun, Mr Hayden also demanded last week that the air-legging mining technique be stopped at the mine and called for the site’s manager to be “immediately stood down” in the wake of the deadly collapse.
WorkSafe Victoria is currently investigating the tragedy.
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