AUGUST 2, 2016 \ STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
NEWS + SPORT + PROPERTY GUIDE
The love flows for Bethany BETHANY WRAGG
been thrown at her so far,” Ms Vernall wrote in a post. “She is such a strong girl!” Ms Vernall said the love and support of so many people had been amazing for Bethany’s family, allowing them to be by her side every day. “I believe the support that has been shown is a true reflection of how many people Bethany has touched during her life so far,” she said. “While we don’t know what is ahead for Bethany at this stage, I do know that there will be things she may need or want further down the road in her recovery and these funds will be used to help purchase these. “Along with Bethany’s family, I am so grateful for the support that has already been shown by so many of you in many different ways and the love that continues to be sent to Bethany and her family during this time.” Donate to the GoFundme page at bit.ly/2aA3yYR Anyone who witnessed the collision is being urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report at www.crimestoppersvic.com. au.
(Shawn Smits)
The sports communities of Sunbury and Gisborne are throwing their arms around the family of a young woman fighting for life after a car crash last month. A crowdfunding campaign, launched last week, raised more than $20,000 in six days in support of Bethany Wragg, 20, who was involved in a head-on collision in Sunbury on July 4 while travelling to netball training. Police said the crash happened at about 5.15pm when a black Holden ute travelling east along Dalrymple Road and a blue Mazda in which Bethany was travelling west, collided. Bethany sustained life-threatening injuries and was airlifted to the Alfred hospital, where she spent two weeks in the intensive care unit in an induced coma. She was then moved to the neurological ward to continue her care and recovery, but remains in a coma. The driver of the ute, a 31-year-old Diggers Rest man, was taken to hospital with minor injuries. The Wragg family is heavily involved in the Sunbury community and Bethany is an A-grade netballer for Gisborne Football Netball Club. The GoFundme campaign was set up by Bethany’s aunt, Nicole Vernall, in response to requests from people wanting to help financially. It had raised $20,145 by last Friday. Ms Vernall said that while Bethany’s parents, Mary and Brenden, had not asked for any financial assistance, friends and family decided that a fund was the best way to show their support. “It has been a turbulent time for the family but Bethany has fought, and continues to fight, everything that has
(Supplied)
By Esther Lauaki
This is a band ready for battle Metal band This Is A Prison is looking to stir up the mosh pit when it hits this year’s Macedon Ranges Battle of the Bands. The battle heats start on August 27 at Kyneton town hall. Drummer Dan Evans, 19, and four schoolmates formed their Trentham-based band for last year’s competition, but were pipped at the post in the finals. “We lost by one point last year,” he said. “We thought we’d come back this year and have another go.” Another mate coined the phrase “this is prison” as a joke for when bad things happened. Evans describes their music as progressive metal. “We’ve written 10 songs but we’ve only got 30 minutes so we’ll have to choose which ones to perform.” The heats will run from 6-10.30pm on August 27. Entry costs $10. Esther Lauaki