Remembering the Clybucca bus accident 30 years on

The horrific accident remains the worst road accident in Australia, with 35 people killed and a further 41 injured.

All of the passengers on board were from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane and many were travelling for Christmas.

Residents who lived near by and first responders were faced with a horrific scene. The force of the impact left the McCafferty's Sydney-bound coach embedded in the front five rows of the cabin of the Brisbane-bound coach, operated by Trans City Express.

Local resident Ray Walkden was the duty officer at the Volunteer Rescue Association in 1989 and was at home asleep on the morning of December 22 when he received the call.

"We got the call at around 3.15am and while I was getting dressed in my gear, my wife spoke to the police officer and all he told her was there's been a serious accident at Clybucca between two coaches and they're full," Ray said.

"I thought it sounded bad, we'd had three other accidents in that area over a few months and knew it was going to be bad because two coaches were involved."

The then 43-year-old, along with two other volunteers, was the first rescue vehicle on scene.

"The first thing we had to do was figure out a way to get into the coaches, the emergency exits weren't there because of how serious the accident was," Ray told The Argus.

"I can remember a lot of noise from the fire trucks and people calling out who were stuck inside, people were trying to get out of the windows.

"We could see that the first few rows of seats were just gone, there was a lot of damage."

Ray arrived on scene at 3.35am and didn't leave until 7pm.

"We just concentrated on our job which was trying to get people out, and we had to question how many were we actually going to get out. I can especially remember pulling seats apart to get to people.

"It was a traumatic event for everyone, I didn't realise how bad it was until the second or third day when it started to sink in."

Jen Cramond had just turned 12 and was travelling from Brisbane to Sydney on the McCafferty's Sydney-bound coach.

She was with her older brother Trevor, who was 15 at the time, and their father.

"I was asleep when the accident happened, so I don't remember much from the actual accident but I can remember waking up after, I don't know how much time had passed," Jen said.

"I climbed out of one of the bus windows by myself and can remember thinking it was strange having to get out of a bus that way.

"I walked towards the back of our bus and there was a group of people there who just looked at me and asked if I had been on one of the buses. I thought I was fine, I did have some cuts and whiplash, but that was it.

"I didn't have any idea what had happened at that time. I can remember someone gave me a blanket and I was driven to Kempsey Hospital in a car with other passengers who had minimal injuries. They were saving the ambulances for people with more serious injuries.

"I can remember it being chaotic at the hospital, but the staff were incredible and looked after a lot of passengers from the accident."

Two McCafferty's coaches had left Brisbane at around the same time. Jen's mother and sister, who were in Brisbane, didn't know which coach was involved in the crash until the other one arrived in Sydney later that day.

"My mum and sister arrived in Kempsey on the Saturday after finding out it was the coach we were on that was in the accident," Jen said.

"It was when my mum arrived that I found out my father had been killed and Trevor had been flown to Royal North Shore Hospital and that he was injured quite badly.

"I was blissfully unaware until then. About two or three hours later I went into shock.

"Having my family there did soften the blow of losing my dad. My mum had just lost her husband and her son was in a serious condition in Sydney, it was a stressful time for her.

"We all travelled to Sydney and stayed with our relatives. At the time we didn't know whether Trevor was going to be alright, but he recovered."

Jen said the first few years following the accident were difficult because of her age, but she said she has learnt to heal and process what happened.

"I had just started high school and the first year was difficult because I didn't talk about it and I didn't want people to just know that about me and for that to be all I was.

"It eventually became a part of my life, everyone has their own tragedies and this was one of mine."

The 30^th anniversary has played heavily on Jen's mind in recent weeks.

"It does have an emotional impact on me, especially now that I am the age my dad was when he died and I have kids of my own.

"I haven't stopped the emotion from flowing and have learnt to understand it. I have a really good support system around me which helps."

Jen and her family will be attending the memorial service at the Clybucca Memorial Garden at 10am today.

"I haven't been back to the memorial with my family since the year after it happened. I have been there by myself, but we haven't all done the trip together.

"I understand it's hard for people who survived, I think about them each year. I also think about the first responders and I am forever thankful to them, I think of them every year."

The Kempsey Lions Club will be holding a memorial service at the Clybucca Memorial Gardens on Macleay Valley Way today at 10am to 12pm to remember the victims of the accident.

For many local first responders who attended the scene, the hospital staff, ambulance crews and the families of the 35 people who lost their lives, December 22 1989 is never far from their minds.

Those who will be remembered today and who are remembered everyday:

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