Bus tragedy of 1965 remembered

Bus tragedy of 1965 remembered

It was a tragedy that sent Levin into mourning 60 years ago.

Now, a memorial tree has been planted to commemorate the six women who died in a horrific bus accident on July 16, 1965. A memorial service will be at Thompson House gardens on Sunday, July 27.

The last remaining survivor, Avis Barrie, will be at the service along with her husband. Avis was pregnant at the time of the accident. Their baby daughter Sandra survived the crash, too.

Five women died on the day of the crash; Sadie Day, Valmai Farrell, Marjorie Netten, Fransesca Romans, and Eunice Sorenson. Bessie Weggery died a week later having never regained consciousness.

The women were avid gardeners, friends, and members of the Horowhenua Floral Art and Gardening Club. There were 29 members of the club on the chartered bus that Friday morning to visit a floral exhibit in Hunterville. One woman had made a last-minute decision to join the group, accepting a friend’s seat when she was unable to go.

The brakes failed as the bus descended a hill at Rata, north of Marton. Bus driver Ian Taylor tried to change down gears to slow the engine, but the gears didn’t reengage, and he tried to apply the handbrake.

Passenger Irene Dallenger is said to have called to the others “don’t panic” as the bus approached a sharp bend at the bottom of the hill. Ian tried to keep the bus upright, steering onto a side road, but the uneven and wet surface offered no respite and the bus rolled down a 9m bank and collided with a stand of trees.

The wooden upper half of the bus was shredded from the metal base and chassis. Passengers were hurled from their seats and strewn across the ground. Others were pinned by a tree that had toppled and fallen across them.

One survivor, Betty Bruce, clambered up the bank, collecting someone’s knitting on her way, and flagged down a motorist. The local service station owner was first on the scene with his truck and two-way radio to call emergency services. A passing Ministry of Works crew helped lift the tree off the women trapped beneath it.

Ambulances arrived from Marton, Palmerston North and Whanganui as doctors and nurses from throughout the region were called in to help. A triage station was set up at the Club Hotel in Marton. Blankets, soup and tea were handed around as the women’s injuries were assessed.

The most serious casualties, including the driver, were taken to a dedicated ward at Whanganui Hospital. Those in a more stable condition were taken to Palmerston North.

Family and friends endured hours of not knowing who was hurt, who had died, or where their loved ones had been taken. Only nine of the passengers were treated and discharged quickly, and even they suffered cuts and fractures.

The women were members of a social club that served a crucial role in Levin in 1965. The Horowhenua Floral Art and Gardening Club had 300 members at a time when many women did not have employment outside the home.

“I remember the friendship, the fun and the excitement of doing things together, being part of a group of wonderful people.” Irene Dallenger said.

During the combined funeral for three of the victims, Levin stores and businesses closed their doors. Shopkeepers and members of the public stood along Oxford Street and a policeman on point duty stopped traffic for the hearses. An estimated 1000 people attended the funeral at St Mary’s Anglican Church.

Both Avis and her daughter, Sandra, were at the planting of the first memorial tree in 2015. Sadly, the tree didn’t thrive.

Now, the women will be remembered with a crabapple tree, “Plena”, a variety chosen for its beautiful colours – soft-pink blossom in spring and orange-red foliage in autumn. It will be presented to the community by celebrant Jo Mason with Mayor Bernie Wanden at 2pm on Sunday, July 27.

The tree will be cared for by Horowhenua District Council and the Thompson Memorial Cultural Centre who continue to value the connection between people, art, flowers and gardens.

A display detailing the Horowhenua Floral Art and Garden Club will be on show July 26-27 at the Thompson Memorial Cultural Centre. The Horowhenua Art Society and Pottery Club will also be open to the public.