By LACHLAN MOORHEAD
EMMA Lowen calls them the “waking hours”.
The early morning period after midnight when she stays awake in bed, re-living the Lynbrook car crash that claimed the life of her 16-year-old daughter, Riyani.
“It’s mainly just thinking about where she would be now,” Emma said.
“What kind of person she would be, what she would be doing with her life, because she was only just starting out.”
It was five years on Saturday since Riyani was killed in the crash, a two-car collision at the intersection of Hallam and Ormond road that occurred on 28 June, 2009 at 1.30am, also claiming the lives of fellow Narre Warren South P-12 College student Anja Miller, 15, and friend Joel Brimble, 19.
“We sort of just stayed inside and ignored the world really,” Emma said of the anniversary.
“It seems like yesterday but at the same time it feels like ages ago that it happened.
“Casey just turned 18 and I turned 40 earlier on in the year and Riyani would have turned 21 so it was kind of a big year.”
Casey is Riyani’s little sister and the two were inseparable. Born 15 weeks prematurely, and weighing one pound, Casey suffers from cerebral palsy and has had to endure the last five years without her childhood companion.
“There were little things that me and her shared that no-one else did,” Casey said this week.
“That’s what I miss.”
Last month Casey was one of eight VCAL students from Narre Warren P-12 up on stage with Education Minister Martin Dixon after being formally recognised by the State Government.
The group had just won the VCAL state team achievement award at the foundation level after designing and constructing a fire-resistant garden now in place at their school.
Casey, who also volunteers once a week at the office of Holt MP Anthony Byrne, said the award came as a surprise.
“It was awesome, but also nerve-wracking,” the 18-year-old said.
“I had great mates that came with me on the day that I know really well.”
Emma can’t contain her smile when discussing Casey’s achievements. She and her husband John marvel at their daughter’s resilience in the wake of constant adversity and praise the support of staff and students from Narre Warren P-12.
“She’ll keep doing the community service and social worker path, she’s been through a lot in her life and she has a lot to share,” Emma said.
“She’s been through enough and she’s got a lot to give to that kind of work in the community.”
Jess Bainbridge, Riyani’s best friend since primary school, was expecting the 16-year-old at her house on the night of the crash, but she never arrived.
In the five years following, Jess and Casey have become inseparable.
“Casey’s amazed me with how far she’s gotten, I’ve seen her grow up and not even be able to walk and now she’s just perfect,” Jess said.
“I see how good she takes things in life; she looks at things so differently, without us even knowing. She shines so bright.”
It’s a sentiment echoed by Casey’s mum.
“Just to know that she’s getting her own individual personality going, her own reputation at the school, and with Anthony at the office.
“It’s just good seeing her starting to stand on her own two feet a bit more,” Emma said.
“She’s got a good guardian angel I think, helping her along.”
