Narre Warren’s Bill Gray is urging people to take more care on the roads following the tragic death of his 19yearold son Nathan in a recent car crash.By Rebecca Fraser
A NARRE Warren couple has spoken of the heartbreak caused by losing their only child in a car crash.
The griefstricken pair has now appealed for all drivers to take more care on the roads and place a higher value on their lives and the lives of others.
Their plea follows a collision in Healesville last Sunday that claimed the life of their son, 19yearold Nathan Gray.
Eighteenyearold Craig Hudson of Healesville was also killed in the crash.
Nathan’s parents, Bill and Sally Gray, said their son had “meant the world to them” and that they were devastated by their loss.
“He meant everything to my wife and I and we treasured every moment we had with him,” Mr Gray said.
“We worked extremely well together as a family.
“This has robbed us of the most precious thing in our lives.
“Nathan was not just my son but my friend.”
More than 550 people attended a memorial service held at the Jehovah’s Witness Kingdom Hall in Narre Warren last Friday to honour Nathan’s short but full life.
Mr Gray said it had been deeply comforting to know that his son had touched so many people’s lives.
He also said that this should be a timely warning to all drivers that cars could kill, that and no one was invincible.
“Motor vehicles are very fine and useful tools but to not treat them with respect and drive them in a manner that is appropriate is a recipe for disaster,” Mr Gray said.
“We hear too many times that young people are unnecessarily losing their lives due to a lack of appreciation for not only their lives but for what they have.
“It saddens us greatly that this has happened.
“Here was a young man of 19 who had absolutely everything in front of him.
“He had finished TAFE as a refrigeration mechanic and had done extremely well.”
Mr Gray said Nathan, a former Fountain Gate Primary and Secondary College student would be remembered as a lovable and kind man who always had a big circle of friends.
“He had so much hope and was such a good lad,” he said.
“He was just a lovable young man who was appreciated by absolutely everyone especially in our congregation.
“The young ones often referred to him as Uncle Nathan and he often took the younger kids out fourwheeldriving.
“This was one of his real loves.”
Nathan worked for Austral and Hastie Refrigeration Services, and Mr Gray said his coworkers never had a bad word to say about him.
“He worked extremely long hours and would come home and never be in a bad mood,” he said.
“His workmates could not speak highly enough of him.”
Mr Gray said his wife had spoken to Nathan just 20 minutes before his death.
“Nathan rang his mother at 7.05pm and said he was having a great time and would not be home too late,” he said.
“Twenty minutes later he had passed away.
“He sounded so happy and full of life on the phone.
“But that was Nathan always so happy with everything.”
