Mum devastated to find son's roadside memorial removed
A mother has been left heartbroken after finding her son’s roadside memorial was removed on what would have been his 35th birthday.
Julie Watt’s son Jayden was just 23 when he was killed on impact after a car travelling on the other side of the road was pushed into his vehicle on his way to a football game in Queensland.
His devastated family set up a memorial west of Noosa on Cooroy Noosa Road with a photo of Jayden and a cross, saying visiting the spot made their grief “that little bit easier”.
But on going to visit the memorial on Thursday, they found it had been completely removed.
“It was once was a place we could go to remember our boy, a place to feel closer to him on all those special occasions, birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas and more,” Ms Watts wrote on Facebook.
“The toughest of days were made that little bit easier by simply driving and visiting his place of rest, the place he had taken his last breath.
“All that lays there now is the bunch of yellow flowers we wished to place there for his birthday.”
In a statement to Yahoo7 News, a Transport and Main Roads spokesperson said the memorial was “assessed against the Roadside Memorial Policy” and said they first requested it be relocated in June 2018.
“TMR has been in discussion with the memorial owners and other parties about the location of this memorial since 2017,” the statement read.
“We have been and are still willing to work with the family to find a suitable alternative location.
“Our officers were aware of the sensitive nature of this issue and treated the memorial with care and respect.
“An important consideration during the assessment was how close this memorial was to nearby homes.
“An internal review of the decision was completed in December in line with the Transport Infrastructure Act 1994, which upheld the original decision.
“The memorial owners were advised of the decision to remove the memorial and provided with the opportunity to remove it before the 27 February.”
Ms Watts has started a petition to Queensland Roads to have the memorial reinstated.
Do you know more or have a story tip? Email: y7newsroom@yahoo7.com.au.
You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter and stay up to date with the latest news with Yahoo7’s daily newsletter. Sign up here.
