Former Kempsey mayor and Order of Australia Medal recipient John Bowell is making a plea to the community to help create a memorial garden in honour of the victims who passed away in the 1968 tragedy in South Kempsey.
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On December 9, 1968, a train and school bus collided and six students between the ages of 11 and 14 lost their lives, while 19 more were injured.
The bus was travelling from Kempsey High School and the Kempsey Convent School to South Kempsey and farming centres towards Dondingalong.
Mr Bowell is still saddened by the memories of the day and wants to create a memorial garden to honour the six people who lost their lives.
“Local businesses have came on board and are willing to donate turf, plants and other items for the garden but we still need a little more,” Mr Bowell told the Argus.
“I have crunched the numbers and we need about $1000 and a couple of days of manpower from community members to complete the memorial garden.
“It isn’t much to honour six children who lost their lives.
“It’s still a few months away but I would like it to be completed by the 50th anniversary of the tragedy.”
The memorial garden will have six trees planted in the centre, one to remember each child that was lost in the accident.
