Touching video has emerged of two boys orphaned by the Hunter Valley bus crash which claimed their parents’ lives, as the community battles to raise more money for the grieving families.
The footage shows Lynan and Andrew Scott with their boys about a year before the adults were killed in the June 11 tragedy.
They were among ten people who died on June 11 when a bus carrying wedding guests after the wedding of Singleton couple Madeleine Edsell and Mitchell Gaffney hit a guard rail and rolled.
The Scotts were survived by their sons, aged four and two years old, and the newly discovered video will be a keepsake of their brief time together as a family.
In the video, the proud parents are holding their young sons after a community sports game and discussing their win.
Efforts from community and sporting clubs associated with the victims press on to raise much-needed funds for the bereaved, with no official yet payouts available.
Locals have launched a raffle with $50,000 worth of prizes in the hope of raising more funds, as public outcry grows over ‘insulting’ lack of money being awarded to victims’ families.
Rotary Club battled to raise $1.5million for the ten victims in June, meaning each of the victims’ families will get $150,000 from the charity – but the community says much more is required.
‘That has to be a joke. Nowhere enough. It should be $1.5m each not $150k,’ one poster said on Facebook.
As the first civil case against the Linq bus company was launched by Adam Bray, the father of victim Zack Bray, locals have called for greater sums to be awarded, particularly to the young boys left as orphans.
Another poster on Facebook said: ‘Everyone says you can’t put a price on a life, a house is worth more money than a human life now.’
The video interview with Andrew and Lynan Scott with their young sons was recorded just over a year before both parents tragically died in the Hunter Valley bus crash in June
Andrew and Lynan Scott (above) both played for the Singleton AFL football club and were beloved members of the community
As fundraising efforts continue, honours are being bestowed upon the victims.
Nadene McBride, who died alongside her daughter Kyah in the crash, was posthumously recognised at the AFL Hunter Central Coast league awards for her ‘incredible contribution to Australian football’.
Her husband Graham ‘Banger’ McBride thanks his local club in Singleton for its depth of support for him and others during what was ‘a s**t time, a s**t show’.
His mates have launched a raffle, to be drawn on October 28 at the Greta Workers Club, which is near the site of the bus crash where his wife and daughter died, along with her partner Kane Symons.
One of organisers of the raffle wrote about the ongoing challenges Mr McBride faces, with his family now gone.
Mates have banded together to raise money for Graham ‘Banger’ McBride by raffling more than $50,000 in prizes at an event to be drawn at the Greta Workers Club, near the site of the bus crash which killed his wife and daughter, and her partner
Graham McBride, above with his beloved daughter Kyah and wife Nadene, is still recovering from injuries to his spine and left arm which may prevent him from working again
‘If this wasn’t bad enough Graham himself suffered serious injuries resulting in fused vertebrae in his neck and injuries to his left arm,’ the fundraiser readers.
‘These injuries will no doubt have a huge bearing on if he is ever able to return to the workforce again.
‘Although the injuries are serious enough the journey of recovering mentally, physically and emotionally is going to take some serious effort.
‘That is why we have organized this raffle to raise funds for him to try and relieve some financial pressure and allow him some comfort to focus on not only his emotional pain but his physical journey as well.’
The video of the Scotts and their two sons was recorded by journalist and Singleton Roosters official Alex Tigani, who was also injured in the wedding bus crash.
Tori Cowburn, who was captain of the women’s side also died in the crash, along with fellow Roosterettes player, Ms Scott and young doctor, Bec Mullen, who was due to be married just weeks after the crash.
Andrew and Lynan Scott at a past Elliott Davey awards night which they were both remembered at at this year’s event last week, Mr Scott being memorialised with a medal for ‘best on ground’ male player
Alex Tigani (right) with Banger McBride at the joint funeral held for Banger’s wife Nadene and daughter Kyah
Alex Tigani recorded the interview with the Scotts in April last year, after Mr Scott played his 100th game for the Singleton side in a match against the Maitland Saints.
Mr Tigani starts the interview with: ‘So, what a successful day for the Scott family, a milestone but before we even get there, Lynan you did alright yourself.’
He then says to Lynan: ‘Can you introduce us to the next generation?’ and she introduces her the three-year-old and ten-month-old boys to the camera.
Mr Tigani then says: A great win for the women’s team but the milestone man right next to you, what does today mean to the household?’
Lynan replied: ‘It’s pretty interesting to get a hundred in, definitely, this is awesome, good to be down here and at least it’s some good weather for it. Shame we didn’t have the people on the field for it but yeah pretty impressive.’
Mr Tigani then sums up Andrew’s impressive record as an AFL player, with ‘a hundred games for this club on top of a hundred you’ve already played elsewhere.’
Next to the video, which he posted back on July 1, the day of the Scotts’ joint funeral, in the NSW Clarence Valley, he wrote: ‘Today we said farewell to two of my heroes.
Andrew and Lynan Scott with their young boys after the 100th match played by Andrew for the Singleton Roosters just over a year before the young parents were killed in the Hunter Valley bus crash
‘Before I even crossed the Murray in 2018 I highlighted Andrew Scott, Singleton Roosters playing coach and Black Diamond Cup team of the year member, as the identity I wanted to win over when I was the new reporter for the Singleton Argus.
‘Little did I know he’d become my first senior coach, teammate and ultimately my hero on and off the field.
‘As time went on Lynan made her return to the club and proved to be just as inspiring.
‘It’s been an honour to capture these memories of the Scotts over the past four years.
‘Thanks for the memories. Love, Papa. #ForeverYoung.’
The driver of the bus, Brett Andrew Button, 58, was charged with 10 counts each of dangerous driving occasioning death and negligent driving occasioning death before being hit with a further 40 charges last month.
Source: | This article originally belongs to Dailymail.co.uk
