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I was asked here today to tell you my story
For many years I would see a news item or story about a road tragedy and I would think – Oh my God, those poor people – how will they go on !!
Many times I recall saying “We are so lucky … we have never had any tragedy in our lives”
And then at 7.00am on Saturday morning the 11th May 2013, Our Beautiful Daughter and Sister Tanya Mary was hit and killed by a drunk driver on the Cook Highway while she was changing a tyre on her bike
She was hit at 110km and she flew thirty feet in the air and landed in a ditch
My Baby ... ... can you imagine !!
It was the day before Mother’s Day
We had become “One of those Families” that I used to feel sorry for
The shock and horror of that day never leaves us
Six and a half years later, we still struggle to live without her
It was my birthday last week and she wasn’t there
We can’t run and ride and hike together
I can’t do her hair for a night out
I have to busy all the time with my mind and hands
If I am not my mind goes back to that time
I cry for the life she should be living and how we miss her so much – it is always there
Mostly on a daily basis I try to live my life so she would be proud of me
I remember the great times we had, the exciting life she lived , how much I love her, how much she loved me, her Dad and her brother and all her zillions of friends
I am positive there are other people in this room who have a story similar to ours
These road tragedies have a devastating and lasting effect
Families, friends, co-workers, and also the First Responders – all the Emergency Services , Doctors and Nurses
What they must see !! … and none of it necessary !!
I have been asked a few times by “TMR” … … which is also my Daughter's initials – always gives my heart a little jolt … ... to speak to school students who were about to apply for their driving licence
I did this in conjunction with Emergency Services who did a rescue demonstration
I think it was very well received but it did not reach enough students
I think that all Year 11 and 12 Students should somehow see that kind of demonstration and maybe hear personally from someone like me
Not to frighten them but to help them understand that having a driver's licence is a privilege that carries a great deal of awareness and responsibility
The potential challenges to ensure safe travel for all road uses are huge
I understand that alcohol and drugs are the cause of a very high percentage of road incidents
All the safety measures in the world can’t keep us safe while this continues to happen
The maximum sentence for the person who killed, my husband says murdered, our daughter is fourteen years
He spent just one year in jail
The Justice System needs to be involved in this forum as well !!
If sentences were absolutely known to be severe, I believe, over time, people would be be deterred from taking a chance and friends would maybe look out more for each other
Maximum penalties need to be enforced and no 1st 2nd and 3rd chances
I know I am not alone with my thoughts on this
One final note – if there was a “separate from the road” bike path from the Beaches to Cairns, I would ride my bike to work every day it wasn’t raining !!
Good luck for the rest of the morning and thank you for listening to me
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