By Jade Lawton
TAYLAH Quinn was farewelled last week in a touching ceremony attended by her family, friends, teachers and schoolmates.
Taylah, aged 11, was killed in a car crash on McGregor Road on 13 January. Her life was celebrated in a service at Tobin Brothers, Berwick, last Thursday.
Taylah’s uncle, David Quinn, spoke on behalf of Taylah’s parents, Colin and Sandi, and her brothers, Jake and Aaron.
“Taylah wanted to be a hairdresser. She already had it all worked out — dad was going to buy the salon, and mum was going to work for her making tea and sweeping up.
“She was already saving to buy a car and learning to drive.
“All her hopes and dreams have been snatched away. Our hearts are aching and broken beyond repair.
“The sun will never be so warm, and the moon will never shine so bright,” he said.
Mr Quinn also read aloud a letter that Taylah’s twin brother Aaron had written to his sister and placed next to her body.
“I wish the accident was a bad dream … a very, very, very bad dream.
“It’s been an honour being your twin brother. I will miss the way you never gave up — you’re my idol.”
Mourners were then asked to listen to the lyrics of a Gina Jeffreys song, “That Will Be Me,” one of Taylah’s favourites.
“Time is sure to help your heart to mend, you know this really doesn’t mean the end. They say friends are forever and I’m sure we’ll meet again, but until then, I am never far away.”
Two of Taylah’s teachers described her as a shy girl with a creative streak, a maths whiz who could tackle algebra but had trouble with her spelling, but never gave up.
They said her smile would be sorely missed at Kooweerup Primary School, where she was to begin Grade 6 this year.
They also described Taylah as an avid basketball player, always willing to help younger students learn the game.
She loved animals, ice-cream, eggs on toast, dancing, country music, her family and her best friend.
Julie Pearce, who led the service, said Taylah’s family had been hit by a tidal wave, with the ripples felt throughout the community.
After a photo montage set to Alison Krauss’s “When You Say Nothing At All,” mourners released 200 balloons in Taylah’s favourite colours — pink and mauve.
Taylah’s best friend, Kathryn, released the first balloon.
Mourners were then invited to take home and plant a thankyou card made of paper embedded with the seed of one of Taylah’s favourite flowers.