Loved ones are paying tribute to the 10 people who lost their lives during the devastating Hunter Valley wedding bus crash, Australia's deadliest road accident in a generation.
Sunday night's crash also left 25 people injured, two gravely.
The bus driver, 58-year-old Brett Button, now faces a number of "very serious" charges and was granted bail in Cessnock Local Court yesterday.
WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article contains images of people who have died.
The bus had been returning from the wedding reception of Mitchell Gaffney and Maddy Edsell at the nearby Wandin Valley Estate when it overturned at a roundabout near Greta.
NSW Police family liaison officers will continue to speak to the families and the victims but formal identification could yet take days.
Kane Symons
A keen surfer and travel enthusiast, 21-year-old Symons has been remembered as a "beautiful, caring" man.
"Kane was a beautiful, kind and caring young man," Symons' sister said in a statement.
"He spent most of his time at the beach as an avid surfer who travelled far and wide in search of a good wave.
"He was a leader, a great bloke and a mate to many.
"He put a smile on everyone's face with his cheekiness especially throughout the Tasmanian Surf Life Saving Community."
Symons' presence, his sister said, "lifted all those around him and gave them permission to show their best side".
"He was also a keen footballer, previously, playing at Lauderdale and then work opportunities lead him to the Horsham Football Club and his current club the Singleton Roosters," she said.
"He will be dearly missed by many."
Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald, Symons' father, Steven, remembered his son as adventurous and a leader.
"We've had some fantastic messages and support. You don't realise how many lives your kids touch," he said.
"There's an element of disbelief, (it's) something we're struggling to comprehend.
"He was adventurous, he loved having to go and trying things and doing things and challenging himself and others.
"He was only a kid."
The Carlton Park Surf Life Saving Club also issued a statement on behalf of Symons' family.
"Kane, otherwise known as 'Superman', was an amazing athlete who competed at the highest level," club president Christine Gaby said on Facebook.
"But more than that he was a leader, a great bloke and a mate to many. We adored him and he will be truly missed."
Angus Craig
From Sanctuary Point but living in Brisbane before the crash, Angus Craig, a BHP worker, has been remembered by family as a "kind-hearted and adventurous soul".
"The Craig family are devastated by the loss of Angus," the statement said.
"Everyone knew Angus as a kind-hearted and adventurous soul.
"Angus was someone who was just as comfortable on the dance floor, kitesurfing, or with his nose in a book.
"The family express their thanks having been overwhelmed by the love and support of family and friends."
Rebecca Mullen
The state's health minister has paid tribute to the family of a junior doctor who was killed in the crash.
"It is a really sad day for NSW Health that we have lost one of our team members," Health Minister Ryan Park said.
"It is sad for those paramedics who are now dealing with incredible burden and pain and anguish in the images and the challenging circumstances they were dealing with."
Park said he was "really proud" of all of the paramedics who attended the scene.
Mullen was based at Calvary Mater Hospital within the Hunter New England Local Health District after graduating from the University of Newcastle in 2021.
Mullen's former Aussie Rules club, the New England Nomads, also posted a tribute to her online.
"Bec was an extremely active member of the club, a wonderfully talented sportswoman and a friend to all who knew her," the tribute read.
"We offer our sincere condolences to her friends and family."
Darcy Bulman
Also among those killed was Melbourne woman Darcy Bulman.
A spokesperson for the Australian Securities and Investments (ASIC) has confirmed Bulman was involved in the incident and that special counselling arrangements would be organised for her close colleagues.
Bulman's former employer KPMG said in a statement: "This is truly tragic news. Darcy was a very capable professional and a wonderful colleague in our Forensic team. When she moved to ASIC, Darcy continued to build a successful career. Our thoughts are with Darcy's family and friends at this very difficult time."
Nadene and Kyah McBride
Singleton mum and daughter Nadene and Kyah McBride were also killed in the tragedy.
The pair were part of the Singleton Roosters football club, an Australian Rules team.
Nadene coached the Roosterettes, the club's women's squad, according to its website.
The Sydney Women's AFL Masters Facebook page posted a tribute to them both.
"Our women's masters football community is shocked and saddened by the tragic news that Nadene (Nads) McBride and her daughter Kyah have now been named as having passed away in the Singleton wedding bus crash," the group posted.
"Our thoughts and sympathy extend to all the friends, families and teammates of Nads and Kyah and the Singleton football community.
"Please reach out to each other for support."
One tribute posted online said Kyah was "a beautiful person inside and out".
In a statement, the McBride family said "there are no words to describe the grief our family is feeling at this time" as they asked for privacy.
The family, which has Indigenous heritage, has granted permission for images of Nadene and Kyah to be used.
Andrew and Lynan Scott
Married Singleton couple Andrew and Lynan Scott have also been named as victims.
Both also played for the Singleton Roosters, with Andrew reaching the 100-game milestone last year.
In a tribute article on the club website, his teammates described him as one of the best they'd ever played with.
The Queensland-based Redland-Victoria Point Sharks Football Club posted a tribute saying the football community "mourned" the loss of Andrew and Lynan.
Tori Cowburn
Lynan's fellow Roosterette, Tori Cowburn, with whom she also played with as a Hunter regional representative, is also unaccounted for after the crash.
Cowburn was an outstanding footballer, captaining and winning a best and fairest for the premiership-winning Roosterettes.
Zachary Bray
Byron Bay man Zachary Bray, who was killed in the crash, was a bowel cancer survivor and an ambassador with The Gut Foundation.
Sporting community mourns
The sporting and wider community continues to mourn, with a number of locals caught up in the tragedy.
AFL side Sydney Swans will wear black armbands when they take to the field this week in memory of the victims.
"The Sydney Swans extend our deepest condolences to the families and friends of the people involved in the tragic bus crash in the Hunter Valley on the weekend," the club said in a statement.
"Many of those involved are connected to the Singleton AFL club, while there is also a connection to the QBE Sydney Swans Academy program, and therefore the wider Swans community."
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2023-06-14 05:52:34Z
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