Tributes for stoic woman to tragic end

Yuleba mourns loss of local icon

THE small town of Yuleba is mourning the loss of a local icon in a tragedy which residents say could have been avoided.

Shirley Miller, 84, died in Toowoomba Hospital after she was struck by a truck while crossing the main street of Yuleba to visit a friend - something she did daily.

Mrs Miller, who was born in the town and lived there her whole life, was stoic right to the end, cracking jokes with paramedics and emergency services as they prepared her for an airlift to Toowoomba. She had suffered serious leg injuries in the incident but died on Monday afternoon in hospital.

Mrs Miller was well-known in the town and, for many years, would walk across the Warrego Highway - the main street - to visit her friend.

On Monday, as she crossed the road about 8am, Mrs Miller had been taking over the day’s newspapers when the tragedy occurred in the 80km/h zone.

Miles police Sergeant Wer- ner Crous said the incident was a “bloody tragedy” that remained under investigation by the Forensic Crash Unit.

Sgt Crous said investigators would piece together what happened.

Yuleba Development Group secretary treasurer Karan Hibbs paid tribute to Mrs Miller who was a distant relative, and said the tragedy could have been avoided.

“She was so stoic,” Mrs Hibbs said.

“I had hoped that her spirit was going to get her through.”

Mrs Hibbs said she had written multiple letters to the Department of Transport and Main Roads over several years trying to get the speed limit through the town reduced by 20km/h.

Another email was sent to the department after Mrs Miller died in hospital, she said.

Mrs Hibbs said she hoped Mrs Miller’s tragic death would motivate the department to reduce the speed limit through town to 60km/h. The Department of Transport and Main Roads was approached for comment.