Touching tributes for sibling victims in deadly Brooloo car crash

A friend and neighbour of a beloved baker and school volunteer, killed alongside her brother in a crash allegedly caused by a carer, has shared heartbreaking new details.

Norma Diana Dutton and Clive William Millers.

Every day, Norma Dutton would place a tea towel in her windowsill to let her caring neighbours know she was home safe.

So, when Jennifer and Lee Hurren didn’t spot the telltale sign on Monday afternoon, they knew something was wrong.

Speaking to this publication on Thursday, Mrs Hurren said she was still in shock following the tragic death of her dear friend, who together with retired pineapple farmer brother Clive Millers was in a car being driven by a carer when he allegedly deliberately drove into a tree.

The crash happened on Monday at Brooloo off the Callemonda and Mary Valley Roads.

The sole survivor was driver Stuart Daryl Gray, who was the hired carer for Mr Millers.

Mr Gray, 61, has been charged with two counts of manslaughter and was due back on court on Thursday.

Mrs Hurren said the tea towel ritual had been in place for the two years they’d been neighbours.

“Then one day, the tea towel wasn’t there anymore,” Mrs Hurren said.

Norma Dutton (pictured) and her brother Clive Millers were tragically killed in the Brooloo crash, with the driver facing manslaughter charges. Picture: Jennifer Hurren.

“Every time we look out the window now... we are still just totally blown away.

“Norma was a lovely, very, very friendly lady who visited us a lot.

“We talked daily about life, she loved to bake and would bring us biscuits.”

Active right up until her death at 85, Ms Dutton was still volunteering at One Mile State School.

“She would always be up mowing her lawn, and she was always gardening and visiting friends,” Mrs Hurren said.

While the Hurrens did not know Clive personally, they had heard of him and were touched by recent stories shared with them since his death.

As news of the double tragedy spread, tributes poured in on social media.

Natahalia Franz said her father used to work with Mr Millers on pineapple farms throughout Imbil, Dagan, Amamoor and the Mary Valley.

Mr Millers, who was 83 when he was killed in the crash, is remembered as having “brought a smile to everyone’s faces”.

“Clive “Fatty” Millers, you were family, growing up in Kandanga, you walked past our house daily for the newspaper, would stop in for footy tipping, collect a carton of eggs from us and even some pineapples,” she wrote.

“You had the most beautiful birds in your (aviary) out the back of your home and I used to love visiting them and feeding them! (The peach faces were a favourite).

“You worked with dad for many years, you brought a smile to everyone’s faces and were just the kindest soul.

“Your sister Norma, not as involved (with her) but know she was kind, caring and very considerate and loving to you and everyone she met, she could make anyone smile with a sweet conversation as she was always happy to talk.”

Karri Bunter, who said she knew both the siblings, said she used to live in the same street as the family in Kandanga and spoke to both siblings when she was visiting her brother or shopping in Gympie.

“This is so sad,” Ms Bunter wrote on the Gympie Times page.

Touching memories have been shared online of Norma Dutton, who was 85 when she was killed in the crash.

“They were such lovely people. My heart breaks for their families. May they rest in peace.”

Lauren Collins posted on Facebook that Ms Dutton was still volunteering right up until her tragic death.

“Absolutely devastating for her and Clive’s family, chosen family and local community,” Ms Collins wrote.

“Children to adults just loved and respected this wonderful woman that has been taken tragically before her time.”

“Rest in peace Clive and Norma. Two beautiful people taken too soon,” Gympie local Karen Wilcox wrote.

“Very sad news. Your absence will be widely felt,” Shell La Spina added.

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Originally published as Touching tributes for sibling victims in deadly Brooloo car crash