Heartbreaking moment as father mourns his wife and daughter at their funeral – after they both died in the Hunter Valley bus crash: ‘Huge hole in our hearts’
- Story contains images of deceased indigenous peoples
- Nadene and Kyah McBride were among the 10 killed
- Kyah’s friend, Kane, was also killed in a crash in Hunter Valley
The husband and father of two women who died in the Hunter Valley bus crash has mourned for his family in a heartbreaking moment during their joint funeral service.
Graham ‘Banger’ McBride lost his wife Nadene and daughter Kyah on June 11 in the bus crash en route from a wedding in Greta.
Kyah’s friend Kane Symons, a footballer from Tasmania, was also killed in the crash. Mr McBride was one of 25 injured.
At the beginning of Monday’s ceremony, Mr. McBride rose from the pews, facing away from the guests, and thought quietly in front of the girls’ coffins.
He lit a candle for his wife and only daughter and paused before the ceremony began.
On behalf of Mr. McBride, the celebrant reminded guests of the heroic efforts of the first responders and thanked them for their efforts to save the life of his family.
Those injured in the Hunter Valley bus crash include the husband and father of two women who died in the weekend wedding disaster. Nadene ‘Nads’ McBride (right) and her daughter Kyah McBride (left) are pictured with Graham ‘Banger’ McBride
Above, family and friends gather to mourn Kyah and Nadene McBride at their joint funeral service
Banger McBride crouched down and inspected floral arrangements for his wife and daughter before the service began
Nadene’s older sister Helen recalled seeing the young couple together for the first time and said their love resembled her parents’.
“I was amazed at the love they had for each other and they reminded me of her parents,” she said.
Hundreds of loved ones – including many who attended the wedding – gathered at the Singleton AFL Ground for the celebration of life, while hundreds more watched a live stream from across the country.
It is the last service in honor of the 10 crash victims.
“Standing here and looking at all the red, white and crow colors – how much love can two girls bring,” said Leoni, Nadene’s younger sister.
“They left a huge hole in our hearts.”
Her sisters remembered her as someone who “never left anyone behind,” someone who danced on tables at parties and sang happy birthday on the phone to loved ones back home every year without fail.
The McBride women are remembered as a cornerstone of the local sporting community, a legacy that has seen hundreds of tributes pour in from members of the national AFL community.
Guests have been asked to wear team colors in honor of two sports clubs that mother and daughter have poured their hearts and souls into over the years: the Singleton Roosters and the Adelaide Crows.
Hundreds of loved ones – including many who attended the wedding – gathered at the Singleton AFL Ground for the celebration of life
Nadene’s older sister Helen recalled seeing the young couple together for the first time and said their love resembled her parents’.
The McBride family have been heavily involved with the Singleton Roosters Australian Football Club, where Kyah was a star player and Nadene her coach. Kyah and Nadene are in the picture
The McBride family hail from the small South Australian town of Leigh Creek. Kyah and Nadene are in the picture
The McBride family hail from the small South Australian town of Leigh Creek and moved to Singleton with their only daughter Kyah.
More than 400 people watch the live stream of the service, as friends gathered over the years and loved ones staying in their hometowns tuned in from across the country.
In lieu of flowers, guests are encouraged to make a donation to the Hunter Valley Bus Tragedy Fund which has already raised more than $1 million to provide support for the victims and families of the crash.
Husband and wife Andrew and Lynan Scott, Zach Bray, Dr. Rebecca Mullen, Angus Craig, Tori Cowburn and Darcy Bulman were all killed in the crash.