IF there is one thing Ezra Lonergan will be remembered for, it is her smile.
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Between family and friends, a burgeoning career in mechanics and a passion for horses, the Sandy Creek girl was known to tackle it all with her trademark grin.
But Ezra’s life was cut short on Sunday about 1pm, when her utility and a four-wheel-drive collided on the Murray Valley Highway near Rutherglen.
As news of the 19-year-old’s death spread yesterday, friends and colleagues recalled one particular aspect of her bright and bubbly personality first and foremost — that infectious, and always genuine smile.
“I said to her, just on Friday, ‘Why are you always smiling?’” said Chris Dziedzic from Twin City Truck Centre, where Ezra began a diesel mechanic apprenticeship this year.
“She said, ‘I’m just always smiling’. She was just such a pleasure to have in the place.”
Mr Dziedzic said Ezra, who graduated from Catholic College Wodonga last year, practically “picked herself” for the apprenticeship.
With her clear enthusiasm to learn, she became the company’s first female apprentice.
“She had a huge future,” he said.
“She was very good at school, could have been anything she wanted, and this (mechanics) is what she wanted to do.”
Ezra was also a member of Kergunyah Pony Club for 14 years where she was known as the “Queen of Kergunyah”.
“With her bright, cheerful personality and her always smiling face, she was best friends with everyone, and everyone’s best friend,” a spokeswoman for the club said.
Ezra and her father Anthony were stalwarts of the club, working tirelessly on all facets of the club, usually after others had gone home.
The pair had travelled far and wide, competing in horse trials, showjumping and combined trainings.
The spokeswoman said Ezra would always be remembered as the “master of musical dressage” and at the pinnacle of her eventing career took second place at the PCAV State Interzone Championships, riding her beloved horse Bronte.
“Ezra’s loss is going to leave a massive void in our club,” the pony club spokeswoman said.
Her friends agreed, fondly recalling some of her other great loves that perhaps others didn’t always get to see, like spending valuable time with her family, creating homemade gifts, or just being there for her friends.
“She was always encouraging me,” said Bree Hatherall, who would sit with Ezra most days on the way to school.
“Whenever I was worried or stressed about something she’d say ‘it’ll be right mate’, and she always made things easier and lighter.”
Another schoolmate Debbie Soanes added: “Her infectious smile never failed to brighten anyone who met her. I knew Ezra would always be there supporting and cheering me in both happy and tough times.”
Asheleigh Doughty, her best friend for five years, described her as “one of the loveliest people you could ever meet”.
The pair met in year 7 and “just hit it off from there”.
“I’ll never forget the endless amount of sleepovers we had, all our memories, everything,” she said.
“She was such a beautiful girl who always had a smile on her face.
“The world lost a truly amazing person, one I’ll always remember.”
