Young man taken too soon.

[big fella]

I work at a relatively small, private RTO (registered training organisation). Easiest way to think of it is as a small TAFE College that only teaches a few specialty courses. In our case, those courses relate to the heavy automotive industry, the mining sector and warehousing. My primary job is teaching truck and earthmoving mechanic apprentices.

We are only relatively young, opened four years ago, but the ultimate fear for many of us is losing a student to the road. As much as I dislike generalisations, stats say that young male drivers are more likely to die on our roads than any other.

Well, this morning, around 7a.m. a mini bus with a band and crew travelling from Brisbane to Sydney crashed somewhere near Coffs Harbour. The band members and crew hail from Geelong, and one of the two people tragically taken was a first year apprentice of ours.

This kid was in his early 20s, had a good head on his shoulders, and possibly 80 good years in front of him. His family will now be in the depths of sorrow while most of us are celebrating this Christmas time. Every Christmas from now will mark the time they lost their son.

I don't know who was driving, the circumstances under which they were driving, or any other information. Guessing serves no purpose, so I won't do it. The fact remains for me, that when the students return to my work next year, there'll be an empty seat where this young man should be sitting.

As well as generalisations, I generally dislike do good preachers, but I'm going to break that rule too. Especially across this Christmas period, take a deep breath before you do something stupid, and picture your Mum, wife, husband or child crying on christmas morning because their son, husband, daughter, mother isn't there to share the day with them.

[Van D]

Man I knew Red Shore, sucked when I heard the news.

Condolences to friends and family.

[svo347]

Its a good reccommendation for all of us. I was nearly rear ended cause a p plater was too busy talking on his mobile phone this morning. I hope he has got the idea after i got out of my car and said a few choice words....
Have a safe one everybody.
Condolences to all friends and family..

[Mark351]

I have mates in local Geelong metal bands who were very close to these guys, they'll be hurting at the moment.

[sauso]

Yeah i was mate's with the lead singer who was killed in the crash. It is just so devestating. He was my brothers best mate. I was only taking him home from a gig a week before...

The other guy who died was the merch salesman. He used to drum for my brothers band a fallen theory. he was driving at the time.

[bigdave]

i read about this accident today on news.com.au, it is very sad and my condolences go to the friends and family of both the young men who have passed

[Hunter]

From what the news said, it looks like fatigue was responsible. It kills so many many people each year yet there is no way of stopping people from driving tired unfortunately.

Sad loss for the families of the two people who died.

[sauso]

yeah it's just terrible. i am the merchindiser/driver for my brothers band, we just got back from an east coast tour on monday. I can tell you that 40 hours without sleep aint good. i took a power nap and i reckon it saved my/all of the band members lives.

[Fev]

my mum told me about this last night, sorry to hear it. Sometimes its just very hard to keep deadlines, they probably had a gig that afternoon somewhere and were in a rush. when your trying your hardest to get somewhere like in the music industry somtimes there just isnt time to think things through

what was the band called?

[dandandandan]

Yeah this has been a terrible shame.
I was supposed to be playing a 2 shows with them this weekend at Destroy Music Tour with All shall Perish the band they were on tour with.

The whole Hardcore/Metal music scene is absolutely gutted by this loss.

If you're going to the show, please buy a ribbon to help the band out and their families through their loss.

Not too long ago a mate of mine had a tour in the US and they had also had a van accident, the singer and his wife passed away but luckily the rest of the band survived. It was on the news also, was a terrible loss.

[Mark351]

Band was called The Red Shore. www.myspace.com/theredshore

[big fella]

Went to Andrew's funeral today. Big gathering, a crowd, music and atmosphere that he would have liked. First time I've seen a makeshift metal band play in a Catholic church, during a Catholic service no less. Andrew's restored Kingswood panel van (HT I think) was used as the Hearse.

In most negative situations I try and find a positive, it's hard to find a positive in this.

[Nostalgia]

My Heart Felt Sympathy to all families, Friends and Fans in this tragic time.

[Werd.]

Thats really sad to hear, condolences to family and friends.