A flight is late and the earth caves in, an appointment gets derailed, we might get annoyed but we have to deal with it, a function is cancelled or venue changed, we can handle that, a mother’s group is altered, we can adjust.
The one type of huge delay and disruption to normal routine that everyone understands and shrugs their shoulders is the massive car crash, and whether people die or not, there are delays and delays, and we handle it.
Every week there is some massive car crash. The news casts show large delays with traffic lined up, in some case for hours and kilometre lines are normal.
I can recount the many times this has occurred on the MI Motorway from the Gold Coast to Brisbane and return. Likewise the Gateway Highway to the airport from the Gold Coast. The Sunshine Coast likewise as is the Ipswich M3 – that is SE Qld alone.
Sydney is similar – a few months ago there was a crash where a passenger was killed near the airport. Traffic diversions were put in place. One lane was reopened after some significant delay.
Reality
This is so common today. It could have been us. Everyone of us hopes it will not be our vehicle. We trust what is going on, drivers are careful and watchful. And the coach too, they are not immune from such accidents and delays.
Who is involved
These are the people and groups involved when such a crash occurs
Are the passengers and drivers alive
Is everyone uninjured
The police are called
Ambulance is called if injury or death
Police Traffic investigators need to get involved
RTA personnel put up barriers or stayed road directors
Tow trucks arrive to take away the wrecked vehicles
A chaplain might be on hand – Police, SES, whomever
What do you do
If everyone is safe and uninured, you ring for help and stay put
Ring the insurance people
Get the other vehicle’s details
If there is a death, do not touch the body
Get comfort – check for a chaplain
Arrange for the tow truck and delivery
Seek advice from the Police
The aftermath
Take medical advice
Talk to the chaplain and or agencies
Talk it over, reflection is good
Get proper rest
Talk to your employer
Visit those who might be in hospital
Take stock
Death
This happens every week to someone.
Meet with the family and discuss the options
Burial - where ?
Cremation - ashes in a box or within a cemetery wall
Church Service or Thanksgiving Service
Many Christian people opt for a Thanksgiving Service at a church and then have a private burial with family or collect the Ashes box and spread the ashes
Spreading the ashes can be anywhere - a friend of mine who was the local SES coordinator has his ashes spread in the local river in the SES boat
Costs depend on what you wish for - the full send off adventure in a very expensive gasket or the Ashes in a Carton quietly and personally.
You choose!
Biblical
Reading the bible carefully, it speaks of those lost at sea. It speaks of burial. It speaks of fire.
A recent funeral I conducted was on the Gold Coast where the person was not a regular church goer but someone who came and spoke to me frequently on Christian matters. It was in a crematorium hall. It was quiet. No hymns. Decorum was the order of the service.
Other funerals I have conducted have been church services, even many years ago, a burial at sea, many graveside situations.