"Forever cherish the memories": Hunter Valley groom speaks
Mitchell Gaffney, the groom who lost 10 friends in the Hunter Valley bus crash incident, has spoken out for the first time.
The newlywed spoke at his friend Zachary Bray’s funeral in Sydney, three weeks after the devastating collision.
The 29-year-old was remembered as a loveable larrikin and an adored brother and son, who had survived a battle with bowel cancer and was dedicated to raising awareness to the disease.
Gaffney and Bray met playing football and became friends off the field.
“Although you’ll never get the chance to put the jumper on again, you’ll always be there by our side,” Gaffney said.
Bray was known as Labrador or Lab to his footy mates, with the affectionate nickname speaking to his gentle character.
“They’re pretty smart dogs,” Gaffney said.
“They’re extremely loveable but no matter what they do, they do it with that big goofy smile."
“That was the first impression he made and it still holds true.”
Gaffney said Bray was the ultimate team player, who “had the ability to make everyone feel included”.
“We will forever cherish the memories that we are lucky enough to hold together.”
Bray’s family and friends including his girlfriend Georgie Copeland, came together to honour Bray in the emotional ceremony.
“My heart hurts,” Copeland said. “I can’t deny it.”
“But I know that it hurts deeply because it was deeply real.”
Bray’s mother Jacqui Varasdi also spoke at the funeral, and said being his mother was her “greatest achievement”.
“And to see you here, laying in this box, just doesn’t make any sense.”
Many of the guests will gather again next week to honour the lives of Nadene and Kyah McBride, who were also killed in the Hunter Valley bus crash.
Image credits: 7News