Hunter Valley bus crash: Singleton town left reeling as friends share devastation

Physiotherapist Andrew Scott and his engineer wife Lynan both died in the horror accident, the worst in Australia in 30 years.

Two children have been left orphaned after both their parents died in the Hunter Valley bus crash tragedy.

Physiotherapist Andrew Scott and his engineer wife Lynan both died in the horror accident, the worst in Australia in 30 years.

They leave behind two children under five.

Physiotherapist Andrew Scott and his engineer wife Lynan both died in the horror accident, the worst in Australia in 30 years. (Facebook)

The Scotts have left behind two children under five (Facebook)

An ominous “closed” sign hung on the door of Mr Scott’s physiotherapist business on Tuesday, two days after he lost his life in the crash along with nine others on Sunday night.

Across the road at the florist, a staff member recounted how the same man helped her partner with his leg injury just days before his death.

“He was my boyfriend’s physio — he was always really kind and seemed happy when he saw him just last week,” Rachel Gore said of Mr Scott, a Singleton Roosters AFL player.

The sign seen on Singleton Physiotherapy’s door on Tuesday.

Barista Kelsey Wallyn said she regularly served the young family their weekend coffees, and noticed how friendly they were.

“They were in here all the time … everyone knows everyone around here,” she said.

The couple played for the Singleton Roosters alongside the bride and groom and many of those who died or were hurt.

The raw devastation over Australia’s fifth-worst collision on record was palpable throughout the small town of 25,000 on Tuesday.

Andrew and Lynan Scott. (Facebook)

Many of those who lost their lives were from the tight-knit community.

Of the dozen businesses news.com.au approached to pay tribute to the victims, no-one was untouched by the unfathomable nightmare.

At least one worker at every stop knew a victim directly or through familiar circles.

Thirty-five guests were en route to their accommodation in Singleton after the wedding of local football star Mitchell Gaffney and Madeleine Edsell at the Wandin Valley Estate when tragedy struck.

Kane Symons. Picture: Facebook

The bus rolled just after 11.30pm at a roundabout at Wine Country Drive near the Hunter Expressway off-ramp at Greta, leaving 10 dead and 25 hospitalised.

Just the night before, many of the passengers drank joyfully at Singleton pub, Great Northern Brewing Co.

They discussed their excitement for the upcoming wedding, according to a bartender who asked not to be named.

For many of those closer to the victims, it was too soon to talk.

Kirsten Gibbons with her daughters. Picture: Clare Sibthorpe

One close friend of the Scott family, a staff member at the local vet, broke down as she was asked what they were like.

Also too upset to comment were the colleagues of local Kane Symons, who was killed along with his girlfriend, Kyah McBride, and her mum, Nadene.

Originally from Tasmania, Mr Symons had moved to Singleton some years ago. He was known as “superman” for his sporting skills and described as an “amazing athlete” by the Carlton Park Surf Life Saving Club.

At a makeshift memorial of floral tributes near the crash site, Mr Symons’ co-workers left flowers and a note that read: “Rest In Peace Kayne. You will be greatly missed. Love all your work mates”.

The horror bus crash claimed 10 lives. Picture: NCA NewsWire/David Swift

They said he was an incredible person — as was Kyah — but were too emotional to elaborate.

It wasn’t just the victims’ loved ones who paid tribute near the crash site.

Kirsten Gibbons only moved to the area recently, but news of the crash hit close to home in its own way.

Originally from Sydney, Ms Gibbons lost her own young child to a rare disease.

After placing down flowers along with her two little kids, she said the situation was heart-breaking.

“I know what it’s like to lose a child, but I don’t want to pretend I know what some of these family members are going through,” she said.

The bus driver, Brett Andrew Button, has been charged over the crash. Picture: Roni Bintang/Getty Images

In yet another show of support, community centres were set up throughout the region — including at Singleton and the nearby town of Branxton — where Red Cross volunteers and mental health workers welcomed shell-shocked locals.

At the Singleton centre, Upper Hunter MP Dave Layzell shared how he knew several crash victims quite well.

“There are people I knew and who were leaders in the community. And of course, that’s tragic when you lose people like that,” he said.

A card left at the crash site. Picture: Clare Sibthorpe

“There will be not a person in this town who doesn’t know of them (the people who died), or know them directly, or have some sort of degree of separation from them”.

“So this is really something that will hurt hard in this town. And that sort of grief is rolling through. It’s a small town, it is closely connected. And the tragedy for this is it was very closely connected to a lot of our community sporting leaders”.

In terms of the support centres which had not had much traffic on Tuesday, Mr Layzell said it was likely too raw for many of those affected.

“If they call, we will come,” he said.