TRAGIC END TO DREAM HOLIDAY
TRIBUTES have flowed for a woman described as a “pillar of the Rollingstone community”.
Rhonda Coulson died on Sunday afternoon, tragically ending her twomonth fight after falling gravely ill on an international flight on her way to a European river cruise in early June.
Mrs Coulson, 66, had been planning the three- week holiday with husband Mick for close to two years when the tragedy occurred – her lungs collapsed on the flight to Zurich, which had to be diverted to Istanbul in Turkey for urgent medical attention.
After being medically evacuated from Istanbul she returned to Townsville in late June, where she remained in intensive care at the Townsville Hospital with her husband by her side.
Family friend Don Anderson flew to Istanbul to help the couple get back to Australia and said the community was heartbroken to hear of the passing of Mrs Coulson, affectionately known as Ronnie.
“It was a very sad day on Sunday when Ronnie sadly passed away with her doting husband by her side til the very end; Mick is just utterly devastated,” he said.
“From being revived on that aeroplane and then being in inten- sive care in Turkey, Rhonda put up a huge fight in really difficult circumstances. After arriving back in Townsville she fought as hard as she possibly could until she could really give no more.”
Ronnie was born in Adelaide and about 20 years ago built a home with Mick in Mystic Sands, where they have lived ever since. She was secretary of the Rollingstone RSL and a teacher at Rollingstone State School for close to two decades.
Family friend Rhonda Gurd, who with husband John first rallied the community to help send Mr Anderson to Turkey to help the couple home, said the incredible story of Rhonda’s fight was a wake- up call for many about how precious life can be.
“The bright light of our local community has sadly faded but she will never be forgotten,” Mrs Gurd said. “Thanks to all the community groups, the intensive care team at the Townsville Hospital, the girls at Flight Centre Willows, all the people that supported not only Rhonda, but also Mick.”
The Rollingstone and Balgal Beach community Facebook pages were flooded with tributes, including from Ronnie’s younger sister, previous Rollingstone State School students, members of the Mystic Sands Golf Club and more.
Funeral arrangements will be announced later this week.