Urrbrae Agricultural High School classmates honour teen crash victim Benjy Weenink at their Year 12 formal
Urrbrae students have marked their graduation milestone at a location forever linked to the memory of a friend who will never reach his own.
Urrbrae Agricultural High School’s Year 12s gathered for pre-formal photos at a place that has long held meaning for many of them – the Robjohns family property in Coromandel Valley.
Two years ago, the gardens were the setting for the celebration of the life of 16-year-old Benjy Weenink, who died in a crash at Second Valley that also left four others injured.
Benjy had been a regular at “Robjohns Farm”, spending countless afternoons swimming in the pool or shooting basketball with friends – including Vera Robjohns’ son, Peter.
On June 13, the Year 12s returned, taking photos together and sharing quiet, informal moments of remembrance.
“With the beautiful gardens, it was an obvious choice for some photos of them all together before the event,” Mrs Robjohns said.
“There were a few mentions of Benjy, but nothing was formalised.
“We offered to host his celebration of life because his parents wanted somewhere they knew he loved – It was held in the gardens and was just a chill vibe.”
For Benjy’s mother, Anna, watching his friends and classmates reach Year 12 without him brought a mixture of pride, love and profound ache.
“Seeing Benjy’s mates all graduate Year 12 without him was really difficult,” she said.
“It’s hard to celebrate with these young people who we love and have known for years, knowing Benjy isn’t part of it.”
She said milestones like this “bring up new layers of our grief”, yet her family remains committed to finding joy.
“We know Benjy wouldn’t want us to be sad all the time, or to become bitter or jaded,” she said.
“We know he wants us to continue to find joy in life, and he would be proud of his mates finishing Year 12.”
Anna said it meant everything to know his friends still loved and remembered him.
That love runs deep – from the stingray tattoos they all got, to the stories they continue to share.
“When someone dies, there is a fear they might be forgotten,” she said.
“We just want Benjy’s memory to stay alive.”
Benjy was “a life of the party kinda guy”, adventurous, funny, charismatic and endlessly capable.
From skating and surfing to guitar and every sport he tried.
“He was just one of those kids who could do anything,” Anna said.
He also cared deeply for others.
In the weeks before he died, he spoke to his mum about conflict overseas and the suffering of children in Gaza.
That compassion inspired the family’s Save the Children donations in his name.
A memorial bench was later placed in Watiparinga Reserve – a spot tied to years of Benjy’s adventures.
A plaque and QR code tell his story to anyone who stumbles across it.
“We just really want our experience to help others going through similar grief,” Anna said.
“Grief and joy can coexist.
“Our lives can grow around that grief, because of what Benjy taught us about living a big, authentic life.”
With the two-year anniversary of his death falling on Wednesday, the family will gather for their annual gingerbread house tradition – now held every December 10 in his memory.
Fifteen relatives and close friends will decorate, remember, laugh and cry together.
“We want people to know that Benjy’s life meant something,” Anna said.
“We love talking about him. We don’t want him to be forgotten.”
As Urrbrae’s graduating class celebrates their own milestone, readers are invited to help mark moments like these by nominating South Australia’s best formal photo of 2025.
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Originally published as Urrbrae Agricultural High School classmates honour teen crash victim Benjy Weenink at their Year 12 formal
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