Hunter Valley bus crash: Gut-wrenching moment dad who lost wife and daughter tells footy mates how he still waits for his wife to walk in the door every night

A Hunter Valley bus crash survivor who lost his daughter and wife in the tragedy has given a tearful speech to football club friends to expose the chasm left in his life by their absence.

Graham ‘Banger’ McBride lost his wife, Nadene ‘Nads’ McBride, and daughter Kyah, in June when they were among 10 wedding guests killed in a bus crash that left Mr McBride among the injured in hospital.

All three were heavily involved with the Singleton Roosters Aussie Rules club and this week an emotional Mr McBride attended an awards ceremony, clapping his daughter when she was nominated and posthumously accepting an award for his wife in recognition of her work for the club.

“I’m still waiting for her to come home late from practice for dinner. Every night we wait for her to come in, just to have our chats about football,” Mr McBride said through tears.

“She may not be here physically, but she is certainly here in her soul and will forever be part of our footy community.

“I am so proud to share that Nads has since been selected as our State Ambassador for NSW FLWC,” he said, before bowing his head and adding: “I wish you were here.”

He later clapped, his hand still in a brace, as daughter Kyah was named along with fellow Hunter Valley bus crash victims Lynan Scott and Tori Cowburn as nominees for women’s football’s Black Diamond Cup.

Graham McBride, daughter Kyah (left) and wife Nadene (right) were all heavily involved with the Singleton Roosters Club, as was Kyah’s partner, Kane Symons, who also died in the crash

Mr McBride attended the 2023 AFL Hunter Central Coast Elliott Davey Medal awards evening, where Nadene McBride was posthumously recognized as NSW/ACT’s AFLW Community Ambassador 2023 ‘for her incredible contribution to Australian football at her club and in the Hunter Central Coast region’.

The three family members were all involved with the club, which tragically lost seven players in the bus crash. Kyah was a star player and Nadene her coach.

Although seriously injured, Graham McBride was one of 25 who survived the accident which occurred after the wedding of Singleton couple Madeleine Edsell and Mitchell Gaffney at the Wandin Estate winery.

The crash also killed Mrs Cowburn, who was captain of the women’s side of the Roosterettes, Mrs Scott and young doctor Bec Mullen, who was due to get married just weeks after the crash.

From the men’s team, Andrew Scott (Lyann Scott’s husband) and Kane Symons (Kyah’s partner) died in the crash.

Four of the Singleton Roosters players who died in the bush crash were (circled, left to right) Nadene McBride, Tori Cowburn, Bec Mullen and (front, right) Kyah McBride

Ten died in the bus crash when it rolled onto Wine Country Drive near the Hunter Expressway exit about 11.30pm on June 11 while transporting guests from a wedding at the Wandin Valley winery.

On the evening, Hunter Singleton Football Club was awarded an inaugural Spirit of AFL award.

Chairman Kim Sweetnam said, “Our hearts have bled for them, and they have had to rise despite adversity… that none of us could even recognize.

“We absolutely tip our hats to these people who have found themselves in a position that no one ever expected or thought they would find themselves in.” We honor you, we salute you.”

Just four years ago in 2019, Andrew Scott received the most votes to win the prestigious Elliott Davey Medal.

This week Mr Scott and Nadene McBride were commemorated with inaugural medals to their names for the male and female ‘best players on ground’ respectively awarded here at the annual representative senior carnival.

On stage, Graham McBride also thanked the Singleton club for their profound support for him and others during what was ‘as**t time, as**t show’.

Graham McBride with Alex Tigani at the July funeral for both his ‘girls’, wife Nadene and daughter Kyah, who tragically died in the Hunter Valley bush crash in June

Screening at the awards ceremony honoring the nominations of three crash victims, Tori Cowburn, Kyah McBride and Lynan Scott

Speaking at the joint funeral of his wife and daughter in July, Banger McBride said of his own injuries: “Every step I take on this path of recovery is to honor my girls.

‘Nads and Kyah shared a smile that lit up the room. Nadene was my soulmate…she had so much love to give and gave it to anyone who needed it.

‘Nads and Kyah have scored so many goals in their lives, now it’s time to score goals for Nads and Kyah.’

On Thursday, a NSW government inquiry into the Hunter Valley bus crash was due to release the first of a three-part report recommending bus safety reforms, including changes to seat belt regulations and speed limits for school buses.

The driver of the bus that crashed, Brett Button, is facing a slew of charges over the crash, including multiple counts of dangerous driving causing death.