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Bikers mourn 'beautiful girl'

Roger Dickson

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

© The Cairns Post

 

ABOUT 50 Harley-Davidson motorcycles yesterday led a procession to the final resting place of much-loved bike enthusiast April Sanders.

Ms Sanders was killed in a traffic accident near Mareeba last week, the 27th fatality on Far Northern roads this year.

Pictures: Bikers farewell April Sanders

At the end of the farewell ride for Ms Sanders yesterday, more than 100 other mourners met the group at the Wayne William Bowman memorial chapel at White Rock.

Tears flowed as family and friends took turns to tell of their admiration for Ms Sanders.

Ms Sanders’ husband Phil said "my beautiful girl is gone" and asked those in attendance to be safe and remember that every day was precious.

But it was not all tears as gentle laughter filtered through during an audio-visual presentation put together by Ms Sanders’ brother Vance Fahey.

The well-known local musician said both he and his brother-in-law Phil were getting through the tragic loss one step at a time.

Mr Fahey said it was the people around them who had helped them hold it together at the service.

"All I had to do was look at those here to see how much April was loved," he said.

"What they have done without even realising it was giving their support by showing their love for April.

"She made herself a part of everything she went into without even trying.

"Her friends will love her for the rest of their lives."

Ms Sanders, who was a pillion passenger on her husband’s Harley, died after she was thrown from the bike when he braked to avoid a turning vehicle on the Kuranda side of Emerald Creek.

Mr Sanders suffered a broken hand and a gash to his head.

The pair was part of a group of four bikes from the Harley Owners Group Cape York Chapter, who were scouting the route for a run to raise money for cancer research.

Cape York Hogs director Gavin Pedersen was part of the ride on that fateful day.

"April had a brilliant smile and personality," he said.

"Her passion was riding with her husband Phil, she absolutely adored him. She was part of our family."

 


Beautiful memories: April Sanders.

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