Road toll a growing blight

By Kath Gannaway
THE Upper Yarra community has lost another of its young people.
The death of 21-year-old Russell Murray in Warburton last week, just two days after his 21st birthday, adds to what many are saying is a growing blight on communities along the Warburton Highway.
Mr Murray was a passenger in a car that hit a tree in Dammans Road, Warburton, in the early hours of Saturday, 26 May.
As the Major Collisions Investigation Unit continues its investigations into the circumstances surrounding the crash, his mother, Helen Romari, and others in the community are also looking for answers.
Mrs Romari is part of the close-knit Warburton business community, which last week rallied around the family.
As she made plans for a community memorial service to be held on Wednesday, Mrs Romari spoke briefly to the Mail about the need to address the loss of so many young people to road and other trauma.
“Within 48 hours of Russell’s death about six mothers came to the house with their own unresolved (experiences of the) deaths of their children,” she said.
“They have been through what I am going through now but without any of the support I have had.
“I am interested in mobilising a forum for discussions. (Cr) Monika Keane and many of the church leaders and business people of the town would like to see many areas looked at and redressed with regard to what causes our young people to die.”
While not all the deaths she speaks of have been on the roads, she said that on the weekend when her son died there were three other serious car crashes along the Warburton Highway.
“The demographic is between Reefton and Wandin,” Mrs Romari said.
“The fatalities are the highest for any region in the state. The statistics are skewed but they tell a story and it’s a story that is growing.”
A funeral service on Friday was attended by many family and friends of Mr Murray, who grew up in the Upper Yarra area and attended a number of local primary schools before going on to Upper Yarra and Lilydale Heights secondary colleges.
The community memorial service will be held on Wednesday at Sacred Heart Church in Warburton at 2pm.