I am interrupting normal HouseGoesHome programming because it doesn’t feel right to blather when such a terrible tragedy has unfolded in the Hunter Valley.
It is devastating that people returning to their accommodation after a wedding at Wandin Valley Estate have either lost their lives or had them irrevocably changed forever.
My family hails from Cessnock and my heart aches for everyone in the region who has been touched by the tragedy, from the first responders to the victims and their families.
It has dominated my thoughts since I heard the news yesterday morning.
It is beyond my comprehension that the bus driver, a 58-year-old Maitland man, has been charged with 10 counts of dangerous driving occasioning death – drive manner dangerous and negligent driving occasioning death.
He has been refused bail and will appear at Cessnock Local Court today.
It haunts me how the bride and groom must be feeling. They should be on their honeymoon, instead they are battling what must be the most overwhelming emotions.
The groom once played for Warrandyte Cricket Club and members of the club were on the bus when it crashed.
The club president said he had not spoken to the newlyweds following the crash.
“We’re giving them the space that they need and imagine in the years to come that your wedding anniversary has this to mar it,” he said.
The Anglican Church opened its doors in Singleton, Branxton, Cessnock as well as the cathedral in Newcastle yesterday to give space to those who wanted to grieve.
My friend the Very Reverend Dean Katherine Bowyer is the deeply caring heart of the cathedral. She told ABC News it saw more visitors than than normal on a public holiday as people processed the tragedy.
“They’re just in shock, just really still trying to process it,” she said.
“This surreal experience that this can’t be happening in our community, in our backyard.”
It is hard to know what to do in the face of such a tragedy. Do events and activities just go on as normal?
The lights at the Vivid Sydney festival were turned off on the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Museum of Contemporary Art and skyscrapers along Circular Quay at 7.30pm on Monday to honour those who have lost their lives.
The first of the victims’ names were revealed when I was heading to bed. Soon we will learn more about the people whose lives were lost and the heartbreak of their family and friends.
In the months ahead we hear more details about how the terrible crash occurred, but we may never truly understand why.
housegoeshome 
Hi Alana,
As a High School Teacher at Singleton High School, our town has been rocked by this tragedy. Many people from Singleton catch a bus to events in and around the vineyards to do the right thing and not drink and drive. Our family is planning on doing exactly the same thing when my son get’s married in October. The vast majority of people involved in this bus accident and those still in hospital live in Singleton. This loss is very deep for so many.
Oh Mark, it is such a terrible, terrible thing. I feel for everyone in Singleton who has been affected by it. Good luck with it all and thank you for messaging me.