The Beagle Editor, Though 9-year-old Celine is now pretty much over the injuries she sustained in a car accident on election day, the horror of the incident still surfaces each night in her dreams.
The accident occurred leaving netball on Saturday 18th May, when the car carrying Celine and her mum collided with another vehicle at the intersection of Francis and Smith Streets, Broulee. With her mum stunned behind the wheel the brave little trooper climbed out of the passenger-side window, jumped onto the road and cried out for help.
Seatbelts, airbag deployment and modern car design protected them for serious injury. It was a miracle they and the other driver survived the crash relatively unscathed. Paramedics took Celine and her mum to Moruya Hospital where it was decided Celine should be sent to Canberra Children’s Hospital for further observation. Celine’s dad accompanied her in the ambulance over the hill to Braidwood where they changed ambulances and crew for the trip into Canberra.
When Celine was discharged from the hospital she left Canberra with her dad on the 7:30 am Murrays coach service to Moruya and just before they reach Bungendore, the bus driver Steve pulled the coach over and asked Celine's dad if he had his wallet. When he checked he realised he'd lost it and with it his cash, Id and credit cards. Steve informed him that a good Samaritan had found it at the Jolimont Centre and handed it over to Murrays staff. When the bus arrived in Batemans Bay for a ten minute stopover, an elderly lady passenger leaving the bus approached Celine's dad and insisted on giving him twenty dollars because she had overhead he had lost his wallet and figured he should buy a snack for them with the money - such is the kindness and generosity of the folk on the South Coast.
Celine and her mum are indebted to the ambulance crew & paramedics. Dr Manamperi, Bernie, Julie, Enna and Phil nurses and staff at Moruya Hospital and Doctor’s Andrew, Robert and Beth at the Children’s Hospital Canberra. Also S/C Brett Graham from Moruya Police, SES and fire and rescue teams, and to all the people who stayed with them while they were waiting for the ambulance in particular two lady nurses, one who tended to Celine’s mum, while the other allowed Celine watch ‘We Bear Bears’ on YouTube on her cell-phone go their heartfelt thanks.
Above: Celine says THANKYOU
Celine’s mum would like to personally thank the kind elderly lady and the people who helped her and her daughter at the time of the accident. You can pop in at Go Vita Batemans Bay every Monday and look for Sofia Keady, their in-house Nutritionist. She would be delighted to reciprocate your kindness. Gary Keady (dad) Tuross Head
