TEACHER LEAVES LEGACY OF LOVE

PASSIONATE teacher Julie Hatton was on her way to the job she had dedicated her life to when she was killed in a horror two-vehicle crash.

Mrs Hatton ( pictured) had been an early primary teacher at Aitkenvale State School for close to a decade and wholeheartedly loved every one of her students past and present, her family said.

The 62-year-old was killed in a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Woolcock and Weston streets, just kilometres from her Cosgrove home, on her way to work on Tuesday.

“Mum leaves behind a family broken-hearted,” her family said in a statement.

Tragically, Mrs Hatton’s 88-yearold mother had moved to Townsville two weeks ago to be closer to her, while her grandmother just celebrated her 106th birthday.

“We’ve got pretty good genes, she was supposed to go longer,” Mrs Hatton’s heartbroken daughter, Michelle Graham, said.

Ms Graham said the family had been left shocked by her sudden death.

“She was going to work like we all do every day, to look after those kids that she absolutely loved, wholeheartedly,” Ms Graham said. “Her students were her life.

“Mum always wanted to be a teacher. She did so well at university … she was offered to continue to do doctorates and masters, and she just wanted to be on the ground with those kids.

“She just loved those children. It’s her passion seeing those children achieve, getting their achieving their goals.”

She and her husband Stan were about to celebrate 11 years together next week, on September 20. They were introduced to each other by a friend and hit it off immediately.

“It was a whirlwind romance, and they were inseparable,” Ms Graham said.

Forensic crash unit officers are now investigating how the crash occurred and are speaking to witnesses. The driver of the other vehicle, a 19-year-old man, was taken to hospital for shock but has since been released.

The family are waiting for investigators to clear them to move on to funeral arrangements.

“We have to let the police and the forensic crash (unit) and the coroner do their part before we can move marks up, forward to say goodbye to her,” Ms Graham said.

“I just hope she knew how many people loved her.”

She leaves behind her three children Michelle, Ray and Dean, and three grandchildren who were “the apple of her eye”.

Aitkenvale State School principal Keith Poulter said support was being provided to teachers and staff.

“The Aitkenvale State School community is deeply shocked and saddened by the death of one of our teachers,” he said.

“She was a highly respected and valued member of our staff who will be greatly missed by all her colleagues and students.”

It’s the second tragedy to rock the school in a month after student Rita Ndel, 9, drowned in the Ross River. on August 12......................... .........................