Beloved mother and son Amanda and Harrison Kilmister were farewelled at a moving funeral in Wangaratta on Monday, six weeks after they were killed in a horrific car crash.
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Holy Trinity Cathedral was full of tearful family and friends, including many Cathedral College students who were classmates of 12-year-old Harrison.
The two members of the family from Bundalong were killed on November 2 when a truck crashed into their car as they were driving home along the Murray Valley Highway at Brimin after dinner.
Amanda’s husband Paul survived the crash, but could not attend the funeral as he remains in the trauma unit in hospital in Melbourne, facing a long road to recover from multiple broken bones.
His father remains by his side.
Their other sons Morgan, 2, and Austin, nine months, survived the crash and 14-year-old Felix was not in the car on the night.
In a moving moment, Morgan waved goodbye to the hearse as it drove away from the church with the coffins of his mother and brother.
Amanda’s father Noel Gwynne gave a tribute to the pair which was filled with both tears and laughs.
He said Amanda, 37, was a kind person and not one to stress, but did not suffer fools easily.
“Amanda always had a positive outlook,” he said.
“She was very competitive and loved her sport – netball and swimming.”
Mr Gwynne recalled when she told him about her “perfect job” as a swimming coach and teacher’s aid in schools, where she got to swim, get a tan and they would bring her drinks and cake by the pool.
“I thought, that’s typical Amanda,” he said.
Her determination had been evident since she was a child.
When she told her parents she wanted a horse, and was informed they did not have a fence or stables for that to be possible, that did not stop her making it happen.
Mr Gwynne said he came from from work and discovered she had not only rounded up second hand fence tape, she had been given a horse that her friend had outgrown.
“I trust that Harry and her are doubled up and riding together,” he said.
Harrison was described as having a similar personality to his mother as he “was kind to others and had a big smile”.
His cheeky side was also celebrated.
Mr Gwynne said Harrison almost had a photographic memory, especially when it came to PINs for phones and iPads, and would often take photos of himself to set as his grandfather’s background.
A photo tribute to the pair showed the Kilmister family full of love, with lots of affection and fun.
Mr Gwynne acknowledged the tragic crash was of national significance and said he was grateful to the emergency service personnel who attended the horrific scene, caring for the children while managing to keep their cool. “We thank all the brave men and women for their service,” he said.
Police and SES members were among the many people at the service.
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