1 00:00:00,640 --> 00:00:03,120 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Fitzi and whipp A podcast. 2 00:00:03,320 --> 00:00:06,640 Speaker 2: I think everyone is still reeling from the accident that 3 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:09,800 Speaker 2: we heard about in Buxton eight o'clock on Tuesday night 4 00:00:09,840 --> 00:00:13,600 Speaker 2: where five teenagers lost their lives in a crash, and in 5 00:00:13,640 --> 00:00:15,720 Speaker 2: this and Navaras. 6 00:00:14,960 --> 00:00:18,320 Speaker 3: And Shiver's Danny Spine, doesn't it some of these images and. 7 00:00:18,280 --> 00:00:22,720 Speaker 2: I mean the thing that really, I mean, we've all 8 00:00:22,760 --> 00:00:25,680 Speaker 2: been in situations before when you're young. You get into 9 00:00:25,720 --> 00:00:31,040 Speaker 2: the car, you know, driving at speed. You know, everyone's 10 00:00:31,120 --> 00:00:34,559 Speaker 2: laughing and having a good time. It's really hard to 11 00:00:34,640 --> 00:00:37,760 Speaker 2: have a conversation with your children just to be responsible 12 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:41,120 Speaker 2: in that moment. And even if one of those boys 13 00:00:41,159 --> 00:00:43,040 Speaker 2: were in the car thinking well this is getting a 14 00:00:43,080 --> 00:00:45,400 Speaker 2: bit full on. I mean, you never want to be 15 00:00:45,479 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 2: the one that says slow down or do something like 16 00:00:48,159 --> 00:00:50,760 Speaker 2: that because everyone seems to be having fun. But it 17 00:00:50,840 --> 00:00:54,000 Speaker 2: just it rips your heart out. Now that these families 18 00:00:54,040 --> 00:00:56,000 Speaker 2: are going to be affected for the rest of their lives, 19 00:00:56,040 --> 00:00:56,960 Speaker 2: it's just extraordinary. 20 00:00:56,960 --> 00:00:58,600 Speaker 3: I mean to see the friends and family on the 21 00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:01,360 Speaker 3: news and the images online. I think also, I mean 22 00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:04,320 Speaker 3: these kids they're fourteen and fifteen or between fourteen and sixteen. 23 00:01:04,560 --> 00:01:07,280 Speaker 3: The images I think had been taken down from online services. 24 00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:09,679 Speaker 3: But in the paper this morning you'll see their young 25 00:01:09,720 --> 00:01:12,639 Speaker 3: faces there and the families gathering, and they're completely broken. 26 00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:15,320 Speaker 3: I mean there's one of the parents who just kneels 27 00:01:15,319 --> 00:01:16,959 Speaker 3: down in front of front of the tree where the 28 00:01:16,959 --> 00:01:20,280 Speaker 3: flowers are being laid and is crippled in pain. I 29 00:01:20,280 --> 00:01:22,800 Speaker 3: mean the paper this morning talks about one of the 30 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:27,639 Speaker 3: parents here, John whose baby daughter he referred to as Lily, 31 00:01:28,160 --> 00:01:31,160 Speaker 3: who passed away, and she said he texts saying Dad. 32 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:33,039 Speaker 3: She sent him a text message saying Dad, can I 33 00:01:33,080 --> 00:01:36,000 Speaker 3: go out tonight? But he was impossible in hospital and 34 00:01:36,000 --> 00:01:38,800 Speaker 3: didn't receive the text message. He goes on to say 35 00:01:38,840 --> 00:01:41,200 Speaker 3: the answer would have been no, it was a school night, 36 00:01:41,640 --> 00:01:43,720 Speaker 3: but I never got the text message by the time 37 00:01:43,760 --> 00:01:45,440 Speaker 3: he was out of surgery, which is why he was 38 00:01:45,480 --> 00:01:48,400 Speaker 3: in hospital. He then received the news and it was 39 00:01:48,440 --> 00:01:51,280 Speaker 3: too late to be able to say no, as it 40 00:01:51,360 --> 00:01:54,600 Speaker 3: was the school night. What were you write? Fits? And 41 00:01:55,280 --> 00:01:57,640 Speaker 3: I think what was interesting was I mean, if you 42 00:01:57,720 --> 00:02:00,160 Speaker 3: heard Peter Overton at the start of the news last night, 43 00:02:00,200 --> 00:02:01,920 Speaker 3: can we have a listen to what Peter said. 44 00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:05,200 Speaker 4: Tonight on nine News. The faces of five teenagers from 45 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:08,240 Speaker 4: Pickton High school killed in a U crash. The three 46 00:02:08,280 --> 00:02:12,040 Speaker 4: girls and two boys aged between fourteen and sixteen years. 47 00:02:12,400 --> 00:02:14,600 Speaker 4: If you have teenagers, please sit down and watch the 48 00:02:14,639 --> 00:02:17,360 Speaker 4: news with them at six pm. It will be confronting, 49 00:02:17,480 --> 00:02:19,919 Speaker 4: but it could save their lives. 50 00:02:20,360 --> 00:02:22,960 Speaker 3: Before we get to the mayor of the shire there, 51 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:25,640 Speaker 3: I just want to mention that I think fits what 52 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:27,800 Speaker 3: you spoke about about. When you're in the car and 53 00:02:27,840 --> 00:02:30,120 Speaker 3: you're not comfortable with the speed or what's going on, 54 00:02:30,280 --> 00:02:33,600 Speaker 3: it's hard. It's hard with the social pressure to say, hey, guys, 55 00:02:33,639 --> 00:02:35,520 Speaker 3: slow down, or can we turn the music down, or 56 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:39,040 Speaker 3: this doesn't feel right. I think the crucial point to 57 00:02:39,040 --> 00:02:42,000 Speaker 3: what Peter Overton's saying there as well is don't put 58 00:02:42,000 --> 00:02:44,600 Speaker 3: yourself in that situation. Don't get in the car. And 59 00:02:44,680 --> 00:02:48,000 Speaker 3: I remember, as I don't know fifteen, one night in particular, 60 00:02:48,040 --> 00:02:50,000 Speaker 3: where one of the kids took their parents' car and 61 00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:51,919 Speaker 3: we got in the back of it and we were 62 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:55,800 Speaker 3: burning through residential streets far too fast. But I remember 63 00:02:55,840 --> 00:02:57,200 Speaker 3: being in the back of the car going I didn't 64 00:02:57,240 --> 00:03:00,280 Speaker 3: want to be the loser to say I don't like this, I'm. 65 00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:05,000 Speaker 2: Scared of that speed as it's rocked the area. The 66 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:08,560 Speaker 2: mayor of the Wollondilly Shire. The crash was in Buxton. 67 00:03:08,639 --> 00:03:11,320 Speaker 2: Just around the corner is Matt Gordon. Matt joins us now, 68 00:03:11,320 --> 00:03:12,400 Speaker 2: thanks for coming on Matt. 69 00:03:13,160 --> 00:03:14,880 Speaker 5: Good morning guys. How are you good? 70 00:03:14,919 --> 00:03:18,400 Speaker 3: Mada. Our hearts go out to your shire and the 71 00:03:18,400 --> 00:03:21,280 Speaker 3: people are Buxton and also of course the families and 72 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:25,200 Speaker 3: friends and I know the Premier visited picton Highway. I 73 00:03:25,240 --> 00:03:28,000 Speaker 3: think the schools were yesterday. Did you spend some time 74 00:03:28,040 --> 00:03:28,560 Speaker 3: with the premier? 75 00:03:29,880 --> 00:03:32,040 Speaker 5: I didn't get to spend time with the Premier, but 76 00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:34,960 Speaker 5: I did spend some time at the school yesterday talking 77 00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:36,840 Speaker 5: with the teachers and the principals and some of the 78 00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:39,920 Speaker 5: students and a lot of the kids in the shire. 79 00:03:39,920 --> 00:03:43,080 Speaker 5: At the moment, they're really having a very difficult time 80 00:03:43,200 --> 00:03:47,440 Speaker 5: losing five friends so suddenly is an awful lot for 81 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:51,480 Speaker 5: a fourteen or fifteen year old kid to process. And 82 00:03:51,560 --> 00:03:53,400 Speaker 5: we only do have the one public high school in 83 00:03:53,400 --> 00:03:57,320 Speaker 5: the shire, so this really is impacting our communities from 84 00:03:57,320 --> 00:03:58,520 Speaker 5: one the shire to the other. 85 00:03:58,760 --> 00:04:01,600 Speaker 3: What did the teachers say to this students. 86 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:06,520 Speaker 5: At the moment, they're just trying to give support, being 87 00:04:07,440 --> 00:04:10,520 Speaker 5: a shoulder for them to cry on, and just listening 88 00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:13,600 Speaker 5: and trying to reassure them and give them the support 89 00:04:13,600 --> 00:04:15,760 Speaker 5: they need. It is going to be a long journey 90 00:04:15,800 --> 00:04:20,200 Speaker 5: for a lot of them. This is quite a significant 91 00:04:20,200 --> 00:04:22,320 Speaker 5: tralma that they're going to have to work through. But 92 00:04:22,360 --> 00:04:25,000 Speaker 5: we are very resilient down here in Wallandilly. We have 93 00:04:25,080 --> 00:04:28,520 Speaker 5: had more of our fair share of tragedy and natural disasters, 94 00:04:28,760 --> 00:04:32,239 Speaker 5: and we will pull together as a community and support 95 00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:34,760 Speaker 5: all of the kids and everybody else that's affected by this. 96 00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:39,760 Speaker 2: Is it true and this just the first responders there, 97 00:04:39,839 --> 00:04:43,200 Speaker 2: Maddie knew the teenagers. Is it true that? I mean, 98 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:46,279 Speaker 2: I know it's a very close knit community and everyone 99 00:04:46,320 --> 00:04:48,719 Speaker 2: would know each other in the area. The first responders, 100 00:04:48,760 --> 00:04:49,680 Speaker 2: they knew who they were. 101 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:55,360 Speaker 5: We are an incredibly tight knit community. I really and 102 00:04:55,560 --> 00:04:57,919 Speaker 5: yet to meet anybody that either didn't know one of 103 00:04:57,920 --> 00:05:02,360 Speaker 5: these kids directly or knows someone that knows somebody. When 104 00:05:02,360 --> 00:05:05,720 Speaker 5: you have small communities like that, particularly when you're looking 105 00:05:05,760 --> 00:05:12,400 Speaker 5: at your RFS volunteers and your Foreign rescue members, they 106 00:05:12,400 --> 00:05:14,640 Speaker 5: go to incidents all the time where they know where, 107 00:05:14,680 --> 00:05:17,200 Speaker 5: they know that the victims. It's part and parcel of 108 00:05:17,440 --> 00:05:18,640 Speaker 5: living in a rural community. 109 00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:21,599 Speaker 3: Maddie. The other thing is too, I mean, you now 110 00:05:21,680 --> 00:05:25,040 Speaker 3: think of the one survive of the driver. I mean, 111 00:05:25,080 --> 00:05:27,480 Speaker 3: everybody pitches what it must have not only been like, 112 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:29,919 Speaker 3: but the scenario of hitting a tree and then on 113 00:05:29,960 --> 00:05:32,640 Speaker 3: to a further second tree. And if that's the case 114 00:05:32,640 --> 00:05:35,080 Speaker 3: of what happened, we can only kind of try to 115 00:05:35,160 --> 00:05:37,760 Speaker 3: understand at this stage. But you think about the driver, 116 00:05:38,560 --> 00:05:43,760 Speaker 3: obviously recovering, has been arrested. There's no wins here for anybody. 117 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:47,080 Speaker 3: There's absolutely no wins. This guy will live a life 118 00:05:47,120 --> 00:05:50,080 Speaker 3: of pain from the loss of his friends. And although 119 00:05:50,080 --> 00:05:52,240 Speaker 3: there must be frustration from the families if he was 120 00:05:52,320 --> 00:05:56,800 Speaker 3: the driver, and obviously the evidence there and the conversations 121 00:05:56,800 --> 00:05:59,320 Speaker 3: with the police are enough for them to continue to 122 00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:03,000 Speaker 3: talk and where he now finds himself, but it's not 123 00:06:03,080 --> 00:06:07,080 Speaker 3: a win or that there's no there's no there's no 124 00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:09,080 Speaker 3: relief for anybody in this situation. 125 00:06:10,480 --> 00:06:12,920 Speaker 5: No, look, not at all. There are no winners here. 126 00:06:13,600 --> 00:06:19,440 Speaker 5: It's paying every direction you look. And you really were 127 00:06:19,520 --> 00:06:23,560 Speaker 5: just trying to focus on supporting our community and making 128 00:06:23,600 --> 00:06:25,400 Speaker 5: sure that the kids are getting the support they need 129 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:27,880 Speaker 5: because for an awful lot of people, there's going to 130 00:06:27,920 --> 00:06:29,640 Speaker 5: be an awful lot of pain for a very long time, 131 00:06:29,920 --> 00:06:31,840 Speaker 5: and we need to work together as a community to 132 00:06:32,320 --> 00:06:34,800 Speaker 5: support them and to get through that. 133 00:06:34,080 --> 00:06:36,880 Speaker 3: That area there. I don't know the road, Maddie, but 134 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:40,000 Speaker 3: is it considered a dangerous era or cars or is 135 00:06:40,320 --> 00:06:43,880 Speaker 3: it a street that has a history of speeding through 136 00:06:43,920 --> 00:06:44,160 Speaker 3: it all. 137 00:06:47,200 --> 00:06:54,320 Speaker 5: It's a typical rural road that you'll find in rural areas. 138 00:06:53,640 --> 00:06:57,120 Speaker 5: It's it's a little bit on the narrow side, but 139 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:02,039 Speaker 5: is no different to any of our other road. The 140 00:07:02,080 --> 00:07:07,400 Speaker 5: whole thing is just incredibly, incredibly traumatic and horrible for everybody, Maddie. 141 00:07:07,480 --> 00:07:09,800 Speaker 2: For anyone listening at any parent out there that do 142 00:07:09,920 --> 00:07:13,680 Speaker 2: have teenagers now that are getting their peas or jumping 143 00:07:13,680 --> 00:07:16,400 Speaker 2: into cars with friends. Have you got any advice for 144 00:07:16,440 --> 00:07:19,600 Speaker 2: anyone just to have a chat to their children this weekend? 145 00:07:20,880 --> 00:07:23,280 Speaker 5: Yeah, Look, reach out these kids, talk to them. You 146 00:07:23,640 --> 00:07:27,400 Speaker 5: talk to them about making sure that they're mindful of 147 00:07:28,160 --> 00:07:29,920 Speaker 5: the impact for a lot of our people, a lot 148 00:07:29,960 --> 00:07:32,960 Speaker 5: of our kids, they're having a hard time at the moment, 149 00:07:33,080 --> 00:07:36,080 Speaker 5: So just sit down and talk to them, make sure 150 00:07:36,120 --> 00:07:39,200 Speaker 5: that they're okay, and have a chat to them around 151 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:41,760 Speaker 5: making sure that when they are driving that they're being 152 00:07:41,920 --> 00:07:43,800 Speaker 5: very very mindful of being very careful. 153 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:46,840 Speaker 3: Maddie, you've got a big job at the moment, there's 154 00:07:46,840 --> 00:07:50,120 Speaker 3: a lot of people looking to you and there's a 155 00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:51,680 Speaker 3: lot of weight on your shoulders. So thank you for 156 00:07:51,720 --> 00:07:53,080 Speaker 3: finding the time and having a chat. 157 00:07:54,120 --> 00:07:54,960 Speaker 5: Thanks for having a goody. 158 00:07:55,240 --> 00:07:58,080 Speaker 3: Thanks mate, thinking of you. Sue from Saint Clair's called through. 159 00:07:58,640 --> 00:08:00,440 Speaker 3: So the accident's really hitting home for you. 160 00:08:01,440 --> 00:08:06,320 Speaker 1: Unfortunately it is we and it was my granddaughter was 161 00:08:06,440 --> 00:08:09,480 Speaker 1: charged with negnited driving causing death and she was only 162 00:08:09,560 --> 00:08:13,520 Speaker 1: quitted on Monday. So I steel so sorry for the 163 00:08:13,680 --> 00:08:17,160 Speaker 1: driver because I know what we went through the family 164 00:08:17,680 --> 00:08:19,680 Speaker 1: and it was just incredible. 165 00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:23,040 Speaker 3: She was acquitted. Did you say, Sue, thank god? 166 00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:27,640 Speaker 1: Yes, because honestly it was the best friend that was 167 00:08:27,720 --> 00:08:30,680 Speaker 1: unfortunately passed away in the accident, which she has to 168 00:08:30,720 --> 00:08:33,160 Speaker 1: deal with herself now. But then on top of that 169 00:08:33,200 --> 00:08:37,200 Speaker 1: she was charged but thank god, but the money that 170 00:08:37,200 --> 00:08:41,160 Speaker 1: there's a Costmo was none of his family. 171 00:08:43,120 --> 00:08:44,120 Speaker 2: How is she coping? 172 00:08:44,200 --> 00:08:47,880 Speaker 1: So she's such a strong girl. That's a problem. She 173 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:51,360 Speaker 1: has been coping. But now now the reality will come 174 00:08:51,440 --> 00:08:53,120 Speaker 1: back home. I'm sure. 175 00:08:55,840 --> 00:08:58,800 Speaker 3: I mean. The funny the weird thing is, Sue, you know, 176 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:01,920 Speaker 3: in a situation like that, if somebody is charged, I 177 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:03,840 Speaker 3: mean you have to find out the proceedings and the 178 00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:07,040 Speaker 3: rules and the law. But what's the point, do you 179 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:08,240 Speaker 3: know what I mean, what's the point? 180 00:09:08,320 --> 00:09:13,240 Speaker 1: I know I do understand that because like in her circumstances, 181 00:09:13,280 --> 00:09:16,560 Speaker 1: it was definitely the road that caused the accident and 182 00:09:16,640 --> 00:09:20,800 Speaker 1: which was proven beyond doubt. But this poor boy and 183 00:09:20,840 --> 00:09:24,440 Speaker 1: his family, I know there is I feel so sorry 184 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:27,400 Speaker 1: for the other families as well, But on the side 185 00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:31,600 Speaker 1: of the drivers, what we went through, and I didn't 186 00:09:31,640 --> 00:09:34,520 Speaker 1: really realize how much it affected our family because we 187 00:09:34,600 --> 00:09:36,520 Speaker 1: all break down on Monday when she was acquitted. 188 00:09:38,120 --> 00:09:40,880 Speaker 2: And so just before you go, and we just asked 189 00:09:40,920 --> 00:09:43,400 Speaker 2: Maddie this as well, but what what's your message to 190 00:09:43,480 --> 00:09:46,000 Speaker 2: teenagers out there that are thinking about jumping into a 191 00:09:46,040 --> 00:09:48,480 Speaker 2: car this weekend with friends after a party or something 192 00:09:48,520 --> 00:09:48,839 Speaker 2: like that. 193 00:09:48,920 --> 00:09:57,080 Speaker 1: I haven't got a message because we've all done something 194 00:09:57,120 --> 00:10:01,319 Speaker 1: that may have cause consequences, But the consequences I'm not 195 00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:05,920 Speaker 1: think that it's very easy to deal deal with. So 196 00:10:08,000 --> 00:10:11,800 Speaker 1: at that time they don't think we're all young, but 197 00:10:11,920 --> 00:10:14,080 Speaker 1: even we are adult to do it too, like some 198 00:10:14,160 --> 00:10:16,560 Speaker 1: silly things, you know, even if my sister death said 199 00:10:16,600 --> 00:10:21,120 Speaker 1: this morning, because my family have contacted me a lot 200 00:10:21,559 --> 00:10:24,040 Speaker 1: just recently because they know what we went through this 201 00:10:24,120 --> 00:10:30,000 Speaker 1: week and they said, you know, like we've all hopped 202 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:33,480 Speaker 1: in cars with extra people. I wouldn't do it now, 203 00:10:33,760 --> 00:10:36,840 Speaker 1: definitely not. And I said that to my sister. I wouldn't. 204 00:10:37,000 --> 00:10:39,800 Speaker 1: I haven't done it, but I haven't done it now. 205 00:10:39,840 --> 00:10:41,599 Speaker 1: But I can't say I have never done it, do 206 00:10:41,640 --> 00:10:45,160 Speaker 1: you know what I mean? So it's just a very 207 00:10:45,320 --> 00:10:48,600 Speaker 1: very as everyone says are horrible, and I keep hearing 208 00:10:48,679 --> 00:10:51,240 Speaker 1: it and it just keeps I just I'd love to 209 00:10:51,240 --> 00:10:55,640 Speaker 1: contact boy because. 210 00:10:57,280 --> 00:10:59,960 Speaker 3: Well, yeah, you have a similar story now unfortunately share. 211 00:11:01,760 --> 00:11:03,480 Speaker 3: You know. The Mare said it. The Mare said it 212 00:11:03,559 --> 00:11:06,000 Speaker 3: very well, in that there's there's pain in every direction 213 00:11:07,000 --> 00:11:10,160 Speaker 3: I heard it. I think if there's one, if there's 214 00:11:10,200 --> 00:11:12,560 Speaker 3: one thing that we can take out of this, if 215 00:11:12,600 --> 00:11:15,400 Speaker 3: we're trying to find a positive, it must be in 216 00:11:15,440 --> 00:11:20,520 Speaker 3: that the sadness of the accident will hopefully stop other 217 00:11:20,600 --> 00:11:25,080 Speaker 3: kids getting into cars, because there is no there's no 218 00:11:25,120 --> 00:11:29,200 Speaker 3: bigger lesson. There's no bigger lesson than what we're experiencing 219 00:11:29,440 --> 00:11:31,960 Speaker 3: and sharing and living through now and what these families 220 00:11:32,000 --> 00:11:34,080 Speaker 3: are going through. You know, if you need to stop 221 00:11:34,160 --> 00:11:37,720 Speaker 3: kids getting in cars, well, there's there's no blunt message 222 00:11:37,760 --> 00:11:40,559 Speaker 3: right there on the front page of the paper exactly. 223 00:11:40,800 --> 00:11:42,079 Speaker 1: That is so true. 224 00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:45,160 Speaker 2: So we know that this pain is not going to 225 00:11:45,200 --> 00:11:48,080 Speaker 2: go away overnight. This is a long term thing for you, 226 00:11:48,200 --> 00:11:50,320 Speaker 2: and I know how hard it must have been for 227 00:11:50,400 --> 00:11:53,160 Speaker 2: you to ring in a radio station and talk about this, 228 00:11:53,200 --> 00:11:55,200 Speaker 2: so we appreciate your thoughts. 229 00:11:54,840 --> 00:11:58,720 Speaker 1: So thank you very much. I just it's just. 230 00:11:58,640 --> 00:12:02,560 Speaker 3: Incredible, very well sir, given the circumstances. Thanks for sharing. 231 00:12:03,000 --> 00:12:05,520 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Fitzi and Whipper podcast.