SUNDAY, September 8, will be the first anniversary of the death of Crestmead woman Kerryn Blucher, killed when hit by an out-of-control car at last year’s RedFest.
It will be a day of quiet contemplation for Mrs Blucher’s parents, Allan and Fay Mowbray, who will remember their daughter with a visit to the site of the accident on the day, which coincides with this year’s spring carnival.
The Mowbrays paid tribute to their daughter at a private ceremony at the Redland Showgrounds in Cleveland last week.
They watched in silence as a memorial garden seat and plaque were unveiled near where their daughter and her unborn child died a year ago.
Rainbow, the nickname Mrs Blucher called her unborn daughter, was included in the plaque’s inscription “In Loving memory of Kerryn Blucher and baby Olivia forever in Rainbows”.
The Mowbrays were joined by their daughter’s husband, Vaughan Blucher, and her three-year-old daughter, Kiara, at the ceremony organised by Member for Bowman Andrew Laming and Redland City Council.
Children from the family planted two currajong trees on either side of the bench in the showgrounds at the August 17 commemoration.
Mrs Blucher’s two sisters, Allison Haegel, 37, and Sharon Ottrey, 31, along with her best friend Mandy Berka, from Victoria Point, also paid their respects.
After the ceremony, Mrs Mowbray publically thanked Mr Laming who made the request for the memorial bench and plaque to Redland mayor Karen Williams.
“I just wanted to thank them for their valuable participation in establishing a beautiful memorial to our daughter, Kerryn, and unborn granddaughter, Olivia, who lost their lives at RedFest last September,” Mrs Mowbray said.
“Karen and Andrew took time out of their busy lives to attend the planting.
“It was such a lovely tribute to the two precious lives lost. A big thank you to everyone involved.”
Mrs Mowbray also thanked Mr Blucher’s sister, Kate Burdette, who was less than a metre away from the accident.
Mr Laming, a medical practitioner before entering politics, was 20m away from Mrs Blucher when she was hit by the car driven by 77-year-old Clare Hansson as she left the showgrounds car park.
Cr Williams, also one of the first at the accident, said the ceremony was a touching tribute to the two lives lost and brought back emotions from the day.
“After the accident, council’s traffic management was reviewed and we now have a template for traffic at events in place,” Cr Williams said.
Ms Hansson, who allegedly lost control of her car, was charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death.
She appeared in Brisbane Magistrates Court in June where she was committed to stand trial. She did not enter a plea and will face the District Court in Brisbane at a date to be fixed. Her bail was continued.
This year’s RedFest will be held from September 6 to 8.