BLOG: Haunting coalitions between accident victim Brendon “Donny’ Robson and other events on the Northern Beaches of Sydney…

Pic: Dylan Robinson

The news that surf store staff member and respected Mona Vale Beach local, 30 year old Brendon “Donny” Robson had been hit by an out of control car as he was parking his Surfstich van just before 9am on the 15th August has rocked the close nit Northern Beaches community. Donny’s life has been turned upside down just months out from the father of two getting married. The popular surfer suffered severe injuries from the impact yet stayed conscious whilst being attended to by witnesses and then paramedics. Devastatingly, Donny’s left arm was eventually amputated below the elbow at Royal North Shore Hospital some time later.

Making matters worse, the subsequent breath test results of the offending cars driver Sara Elena Hay, 37. Sarah (originally from Bilgola Plateau) returned a mid range reading of .097 when police tested her after the crash. Her car [a two door hatch pictured below] reportedly swerved across three lanes of traffic prior to hitting Donny.

News of the crash and Donny’s injuries have been especially troubling for those who knew and loved another local surfer, Peter Joseph Odell [RIP], a 52-year-old Stone Mason and father of three who died at Sarah’s Newport apartment (she shares with her sister Elizabeth) in July.

Another troubling factor in all this for me personally is that I’d helped Sarah’s twin sister Elizabeth from her car nearly ten years ago after she’d inexplicably ran of the road in the tree-lined Wakehurst Parkway. Driving home with a girlfriend I witnessed the car in front fail to take a corner and disappear into the bush without breaking. When I approached the driver side of the car I realised it was Elizabeth (Liz), a girl I’d known from School at Barrenjoey High, Avalon Beach. That night ten years ago I drove Elizabeth home – happy to help and thinking she was lucky to be alive after her car had missed all of the many trees that lined the roadside. On reflection, I’m thinking innocent lives would be better off if the police had been called. Hindsight is 20/20.

On the positive side Mona Vale Boardriders had a fundraiser recently to raise money for their fellow member Donnie’s recovery (and impending wedding in November). It was a great success and Donny, who was able to attend the night, was overwhelmed by the support. His club wants him surfing again and, to make sure he can afford the rehabilitation necessary to get him in the water, it has raised more than $70,000.

“Our focus for the [fund-raising] evening was to generate as much as we could to getting him back out in the water,” said Paul Cutler of Mona Vale Boardriders.

The money raised will go a long way to helping Donny get back into the water but not all the way. It’s that reason the club has set up a bank account in order to collect more donations.

Surfers worldwide know the pain of being out of the water and Donny will have to work hard to keep his love of surfing alive and well. Let’s help out where we can to make that possible.

Tracks wishes he and his family all the best and encourages donations be made no matter how small.

NOTE: On Monday the 20th September Sarah Hay’s case was adjourned to October 13, where additional charges are expected to be laid.

Mona Vale Boardriders has set up a bank account to collect further donations for Mr Robson. Westpac, account name – Deep Dig for Donny, BSB: 032191, account: 339969

The much loved and missed Peter Joesph Odell [PJ] on a solid Nth Avalon left. Pic: Roy Leggo