Messages of love for ‘queen of hugs’
DEVASTATED loved ones of an eight-year-old Gold Coast girl who was killed in a car crash on the way to a netball tournament have paid tribute to her as the “queen of hugs”.
Junior netballer Olivia Douglas, daughter of Tegan Mitchell, lost her life when the car she was a passenger in was involved in a head-on collision with a ute on the Bruce Hwy near South Isis on Friday.
The car was travelling in convoy to the annual netball event held in Bundaberg at the weekend.
A senior coach and her granddaughter also travelling in the car with Olivia were flown to the Sunshine Coast with serious but non-lifethreatening injuries.
The male ute driver also died in the crash.
Olivia’s mother posted online: “Yesterday we tragically lost the most amazing little girl this world had the privilege of knowing.
“She is our sweet sensitive soul who loved life, family and friends. As Livy would say, ‘Live! Laugh! Love’!”
“We love you angel and know that you are up in heaven with God.”
A photo of the smiling Olivia clutching a book accompanied the message.
More than 1500 Queensland primary school netball players, officials and organisers stood in silence at the weekend to commemorate the loss of the young Oxenford State School student.
Ms Mitchell’s partner Tim Stark later posted: “On behalf of the Mitchell, Douglas and Stark families, Tegan and I would like to thank everyone for their kind words, messages, emails, phone calls and acts of kindness that you’ve given us since the tragic accident that occurred on Friday.
“Our apologies for not returning phone calls, emails or messages ... we as a family group are still struggling to comprehend what has just happened in this horrific nightmare.
“Olivia was and always will be remembered by anyone who met her as the sweetest young girl who left way too soon.
“Our hearts will be forever broken as you had so much to give this world as a sister, daughter, granddaughter, great granddaughter, student and best friend to so many.
“Liv loved anything to do with music, singing, dancing and writing her own music, and I so wish that you were here to be able to keep teaching your baby sister how to dance your way.”
In a statement from the Coomera Netball Club, the committee said it offered its “deepest condolences to the families involved, we cannot even begin to imagine what you might be going through at this very sad time”.
“We as a club need to rally round and help these families through this very rough time right now,” it stated.