On the 35th anniversary of the tragic Cowper bus crash, Clarence Nationals MP Richie Williamson has paid tribute in a Private Member’s Statement in the NSW Parliament to both the victims and the first responders who attended the devastating scene on 20 October 1989.
The crash, which claimed the lives of 21 people and left 22 injured, remains one of Australia's worst traffic disasters.
Mr Williamson reflected on the heartbreaking incident, sharing his personal recollection of hearing the news as a 15-year-old and acknowledging those who lost their lives.
"Tonight, we remember the lives taken too soon, and the families forever changed by the events of that terrible morning," Mr Williamson said.
The victims included Angus Bristow, Anita Elloy, Alwyn Fenton, Cecilia Howard, David Hutchins, Willam Liddy, Vicki‑Lea McGrath, Leslie Ormesher, Gavin Ormesher, Nadine Ormesher, Martin Ormesher, Jannine Ormesher, Jennifer Smedley, Kelly Watson, Robert Westlake, Winifred Westlake, Norman White, Elizabeth Wisley, Shaun Wisley, Pauline Zammit and unborn Baby Bradford whose names will never be forgotten.
Mr Williamson also extended his deepest gratitude to the first responders, including doctors, nurses, paramedics, and SES volunteers, who bravely confronted the unimaginable.
"The emergency personnel who attended the scene are heroes, and their efforts saved lives that morning. But the trauma they endured is something that remains with them to this day."
The crash not only left a deep scar on the community but also prompted urgent calls for the duplication of the Pacific Highway. The coronial inquiry into the disaster highlighted the highway's hazardous condition, laying blame at the feet of the then Hawke and Greiner governments for failing to act sooner.
“While the highway has since been duplicated, the scars of Cowper have never fully healed in our community,” Mr Williamson said.
"We honour the memory of those who perished, and we will always remember the heroes who responded on that fateful day."
PHOTO: The Cowper Bus Memorial, where a plaque was erected by Clarence Valley Council on the 25th anniversary, bears the inscription by then Mayor Richie Williamson: “This plaque marks the 25th Anniversary of the tragic Cowper bus crash. Despite the passing of time, the thoughts and prayers of the people of the Clarence Valley remain with all those who suffered.”
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