Memorial to honour bus crash victims

LOOKING BACK: The truck involved in the 1989 Cowper bus crash in which 20 people died.

Grafton Daily News

AT just before 4am on October 20, 1989, a semi-trailer laden with cans of fruit juice drifted to the wrong side of the Pacific Highway and ripped the side from a Sunliner coach heading in the opposite direction.

Twenty people died as a result.

At the time it was Australia's worst road accident.

On October 20 this year that tremendous waste of life will be remembered in a quiet and respectful service at a memorial erected at Cowper in memory of those who died.

The service is being organised by the Lions Club of Maclean, and committee member Des Burke said the service would last between 20 minutes and half an hour and would be unhurried.

It will include a lone piper at the beginning and the end of the ceremony.

He said a commemorative service would be conducted by the Reverend Donald Kirk and the Clarence Mayor, Richie Williamson, or a representative, would unveil a plaque of the names of the deceased. Anyone is welcome.

Mr Burke said he was keen for family of those who died or survivors to be advised of the service.

Free tea and coffee will be provided at the Brushgrove Hotel and a $10 luncheon will be available.