A memorial dedicated to 11-year-old Sandra Paige Iredale who died after being involved in a collision with a Ford Utility last Thursday has been placed along Parkhill Drive in Berwick. By Kelly Yates
DISCO balls and balloons will be spread throughout a Berwick church on Friday as a family remembers the life of an 11-year-old who was killed last week.
Sandra Paige Iredale died after being involved in a collision with a Ford Utility last Thursday at the intersection of Grant Close and Parkhill Drive in Berwick about 5.35pm.
The Berwick Lodge Primary School student was airlifted to the Royal Children’s Hospital and died later that night.
Sandra’s parents Scott and Anna Iredale told the News they wanted the funeral to be her last party, as she was set to celebrate her 12th birthday next week.
Mr Iredale said he knew his little princess had gone as she was being airlifted to the hospital.
“I couldn’t feel her in my heart any more,” he said.
Mrs Iredale recalled running out onto the street when she heard about the incident.
“There were people everywhere and I saw my little girl lying on the road with a blanket on her,” she said.
“She looked like she was sleeping peacefully but she never came back to me.”
The couple described their daughter as being a passionate, kind and caring girl.
“She loved animals and used to bring home lost cats all the time,” Mrs Iredale said.
Sandra was a keen AFL fan, following in her father’s footsteps by supporting the Geelong Cats.
“She had an interest in music and dancing and took part in a competition earlier this month where she won her first ribbon,” Mr Iredale said.
“We’d wake up in the morning and find Sandra dancing in her bedroom. It sounded like a herd of elephants. Yet the morning after the collision we heard no noise in the house.”
Family, friends and even strangers have been visiting the family home with flowers and gifts.
The couple said they knew how good their daughter was but didn’t realise how much she had touched the lives of others.
Friends of the grade six student have written notes to the Iredale family, with one friend saying no one could ever replace Sandra.
“What is clear is that everyone misses you,” the letter read.
“Everyone promises never to forget you. We wish we could take back what happened but we can’t”.
The couple say the 70km/h speed limit along Parkhill Drive needs to be lowered.
“The current speed limit is ridiculous,” she said.
“The road needs to put down to 40km/h as there are children and residents crossing the busy road all the time.”
Mrs Iredale suggested a roundabout be placed at the intersection where the collision occurred in an effort to slow down drivers.
“I feel like writing 40km/h on a piece of cardboard and sticking it on the speed limit sign to stop the drivers from flying down the road,” she said.
Berwick Lodge Primary School principal Henry Grossek said the tragedy came as a shock to the whole school community.
Senior Constable Allen Inderwisch from the Casey Traffic Management Unit (TMU) is calling for any witnesses to come forward to police by calling 9705 3174.
The driver of the car, a 23-year-old Berwick man, was not injured during the collision. Police will prepare a report for the Coroner.
The funeral for Sandra Paige Iredale, which is being arranged by Lynne Westland manager of Tobin Brothers in Berwick, will be held this Friday at 1pm at St Michaels Catholic Church in Berwick.
