The Faces behind the Tragedy
Article from The Courier Mail
Sophie Elsworth
September 06, 2008 12:00am
A SUNSHINE Coast woman who died in a horrific accident on a section of the Bruce Highway on Thursday in which two other people died was pregnant. Close friends of Rachel Purdy, 31, who was seven months pregnant, poured out their emotions yesterday on internet social networking site Facebook.
Ms Purdy, from Tewantin, was killed when two semi-trailers, a truck and her car collided north of Pomona, near Noosa, on Thursday afternoon. Friend Amy Dutton, wrote a heartfelt message on Ms Purdy’s Facebook site only hours after the crash. “I love you Rach, I’m hurting so much. I wanted to meet your baby because I know that they would have been so special, just like you are to so many people,” she wrote. “I’m glad that I met you because you’re the only positive and strong light in my life. Keep shining babe.”
Another friend, Lavina Webb, also wrote a message on the site in which she remembered Ms Purdy’s “beautiful smile”. “I wish you all the best in your next life and I am thinking of you and your beautiful smile every day I live without you,” she wrote. Ms Purdy was the state manager at hair-removal company Hairfree where she had worked for four years.
Her car caught fire, also claiming the life of a 29-year-old Tinbeerwah man who was a passenger in the vehicle. Friends and family of truck driver Mark Hamilton, 45, a father of three from Caloundra, also killed in the crash, were in shock yesterday and trying to come to terms with their loss.
Rodney Sharp, manager of Sharp’s Plywood where Mr Hamilton worked, visited the crash site on Thursday and was shocked by the “horrendous” sight.
September 8th, 2008 at 8:50 am
When I hear or read of situations like this,I just bow my head and sometimes a tear … for everyone.
Please take care.
Dave
September 12th, 2008 at 11:53 pm
I mean absolutely no disrespect with my reply to this one, and my condolences to the families of all that have lost someone dear to them.
One thing though I do notice about media reports, is the way they hype stories like this up. I don’t mean about the details, but the way in which Ms Purdy has been portrayed. The author in this story, has given a face, a name, and a life to Ms Purdy. The only mention that the truck driver - who lost his life - is getting; is a comment that his family are shocked, and are coming to terms with their loss. I maybe wrong, but this truck driver gets 1 line, as if it’s just another truck driver, whereby Ms Purdy (rest her soul) gets glorified as someone that author wants us to feel sorry for because she has people that love her.
I’m not saying I don’t feel sorry for Ms Purdy and her family, but would this author give the same highlight to the truck driver if a car was the cause to this accident??
This disparity of reporting should be concerning to all of us. It frustrates me as a professional, and as an ambassador to an industry that is constantly being considered as somewhat less deserving. After all a loss of life is a loss of life, irrespective of vehicle driven.
I also must add that in no way do I claim that those that support this website share this same view, but I’m just wanting to highlight ways that the media has been able add more mud to our image that is suffering enough under the weight of a minority - that I might add exists in every category of driving group - of drivers that aren’t nearly as professional as the mainstream.
Chris Cartwright
National Finalist Young Australian Truck Driver Competition 2007
September 13th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
I have to agree with you Chris on the way the media gets a story across.
I think too much is orchestrated by the media in the pursuit of a good headline.
By all means investigate the how,when and why but there has to be an absolutely discreet manner in the story generated.
Why? …because of the families etc left behind.
Learn and educate by the mistakes made!
How we do that precisely …well … generally there are many views on the subject.
I’ve got sons in their 30’s and I tell them the same thing….Drive safely and no shenanigans on the road.
To all please be safe on our roads.
Dave