Flowers spill over the centre circle at Rose Point Park, the home ground where so many of the Singleton Roosters’ games are played.
Lying amid the bouquets of roses and sunflowers, a small football bears not the signature of stars but the handwritten names Nadine, Kyah, Kane, Lynan, Andrew, Zach, Angus. The Roosters who won’t play on the pitch again.
The flowers were laid by the club members who gathered on Tuesday evening in remembrance of their coach and teammates who died in the Hunter Valley wedding bus crash.
The club has found itself at the epicentre of the tragedy: Mitchell Gaffney and Maddy Edsell, the bride and groom whose wedding guests were returning from on Sunday night, were members of the Singleton men’s and women’s teams.
Rotary Australia, working with the New South Wales government, has established a fund to support those caught up in the tragedy. The premier, Chris Minns, who visited the town on Wednesday, said his government would contribute $100,000 to the fund.
“When tragic events like this occur, it’s the Australian way to reach out and support one another,” Minns said. “I know many people are looking at ways to support the families affected by this heartbreaking accident, and I encourage people to donate directly through the website – it’s the quickest way to get funds to those who need them most.”
Gerard McMillan, the president of the Rotary Club of Singleton Sunrise, thanked the premier for kickstarting the fundraising activity.
“As we talk, there are two young children who have lost their parents. They are going to need ongoing support,” McMillan said. “There are just so many people hurting in our community, but we are resilient in the Hunter Valley.”
McMillan said he had been receiving calls from all around the country. “People really want to get behind us.”
Sue Gardiner, the president of the Singleton Lionesses, said “everywhere you go, everyone’s just feeling very … I don’t know, just overwhelmed I think is the word.
“It’s just everywhere, everyone’s affected. Even if you don’t know the people directly, you know someone who knows someone who’s been affected.”
Phil Walton, the immediate past president of Singleton Lions, said his heart went out to the newlywed couple.
“How is it going to affect them into the future with their wedding anniversaries? This is something that’s going to be in the back of their minds all the time.”
The Sydney Swans are preparing to pay tribute to the victims of the Hunter Valley wedding bus crash, including Kyah McBride, who had been selected to represent the Sydney Swans in the Women’s Summer Series round.
The AFL team’s players will wear black armbands against the Brisbane Lions this weekend. The Swans chief executive, Tom Harley, said the club was deeply saddened by the “horrific events over the weekend”.
“Our hearts go out to all of those impacted by this tragedy and our club offers its deepest condolences to their family and friends,” he said.
On Wednesday morning, community members continued to add to the mound of floral tributes. Some arrived in groups, resting their heads on each other’s shoulders; others grieved on their own.
The community is rallying around the tiny club. A fundraising page set up by the Roosters for victims and their families has already raised $121,159. The local pub, the Horse and Jockey, has also pledged to use its weekly raffles to raise funds for the club to distribute to those affected.
The Singleton Roosters said the support was overwhelming.
“Singleton Australian Football Club greatly appreciates the support from the community during this most devastating time,” it said on its Facebook page.
“We have been overwhelmed by the response to our GoFundMe page.”
The McBride family is grieving the loss of two of its members, mother and daughter Nadene and Kyah. Both played for the club.
In a statement issued through NSW police, they asked for privacy to grieve.
“There are no words to describe the grief our family is feeling at this time, which is why we would like to formally decline any requests for media interviews,” the statement said.
“We ask that the media respect our privacy while we grieve and process this tragedy as a family unit.”
Thirteen people remained in a stable condition in hospital on Wednesday: nine at John Hunter hospital, two at Singleton hospital and two at Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred.
Tracy Chapman, the Hunter Valley police district commander, said Wine Country Drive, where the accident occurred, was reopened Tuesday night.
Police were working to ensure there was a safe passage on the road for people who wished to lay flowers and take a moment out of their day to think of the people who died, as well as those who “now have to rebuild their lives and work their way through that grief”, Chapman said.
There had also been multiple people in the community who had offered their own homes, accommodation and hotels to people visiting the community because they had lost a loved one or to be with loved ones affected, Minns said.
Local grief counsellors had also offered their off-duty time to help those affected, the premier said.
“I think it’s indicative of how wonderful this local community is, and how close-knit they are,” Minns said.
Paul O’Keefe, a chaplain with the NSW Disaster Recovery Chaplaincy Network, has seen the full range of emotions from the Singleton community who have come to pay their respects to the victims.
Wednesday was the first day that the mourners were able to come to the site of the crash after the road reopened Tuesday night. Many came to lay flowers, along with notes, polaroid pictures and at least one teddy bear, at the spontaneous memorial.
“We’re seeing absolute grief. Raw grief, as those folks who have been affected so badly by this incident,” O’Keefe said.
“I’ve had people yesterday weeping peacefully. I’ve had people virtually collapsing. I’ve had people looking at the flowers and saying I remember this person, talking about the fact we had a beer in the pub last Thursday, and they were laughing and joking with me.
“As a chaplain, we journey with them, whether it be in the pit, or whether it be celebrating.”
