Dions Funeral
21 August 2007
Current mood: nostalgic
It is nearly 2 weeks since Dion left this plane of existence, on Thursday 16 August 2007 a funeral
service was held for him at St Teresa's Parish here in Whyalla, what a turnout, it was very
overwhelming, to know so many people thought so much of him, warts and all. I have edited the video
from the service and uploaded to Youtube for those who were not able to make the service. Provided
Youtube accept it, as it is a long service I may have to shorten it even more or put it up in different
parts. As the end of the school year approaches, many of Dion's Year 12 mates will do their Exams.
Dreams of Dion
24 August 2007
I am curious has anyone dreamed of Dion yet??? Dion was aware of some of my "abilities" I don't know if
he believed them or not, but it was a topic of conversation on our many nights out driving when he was
on his learners. YET I have not dreamed of him since he died. Unless you count that wierd night that
he did. where I briefly saw him in a striped t shirt. then woke up to see the clock at 1.30 am or there
abouts it was strange, anyways I come to the conclusion that he hasn't contacted me in my dreams yet
because he knows I am gonna give him a lecture. Guess when he is feeling brave he will show up
Grateful
27 August 2007
I am so happy and grateful for......
I am so happy and grateful for.....
been given the opportunity to be Dion's mum, as frustrating as he could be at the best of times, he grew
up to be an at-home devil and outside angel.
I am so happy and grateful that..... I am the mum of 5 other children, each are individual and each
share similarities with their eldest brother Dion.
I will bring Dion home... this is where he belongs with his brothers and sisters and his mum.
I will do well in my studies so I can go on and get that Law degree, so I can give my children the best
opportunities that I can give them.
I have no room for negativity in my life, out of every negative must come a positive
ASK, BELIEVE and then RECEIVE
place your wishes under mine
ask for them, believe with all your faith that you will get them
then and only then will you receive them
I am not Haunted Number 13
15 November 2007
It is so hard to pick a title of a Blog, but the one picked says it all. It is 13 weeks since Dion
died, it has gone by so fast, I have been looking at some of the photos that were taken of him 13 weeks
after his birth and now I am sitting here writing this,13 weeks after his death. Is the number 13 such
an unlucky number? Dion was born on the 13th April, he was the 67th person to die on South Australian
Roads this year, add up the 6 and the 7 you get 13.
My Mission in Life DRIVER EDUCATION AND ROAD SAFETY
Current mood: awake
ROAD SAFETY EDUCATION
19 November 2007
I am on a Mission and that is to push for tougher driving laws especially for teenage and young drivers
Road crashes reported to the South Australian Police are compiled and maintained by Transport SA. They
are used to provide statistics to analyze current road safety programs and to assist in developing new
road safety initiatives.
The number of young drivers killed or seriously injured in road crashes is a serious problem in all
states of Australia. Young people aged 16 to 25 makeup 13% of Australia's population but account for
nearly 25% of road deaths.
Young drivers exhibit certain attributes that contribute to their higher risk of road crashes. These
include:
* Lack of experience
* Risk-taking behavior
* The use of older vehicles with fewer safety features
* Speeding * Peer pressure
Findings
* Young drivers aged 16 to 20 had the highest rate of all age groups at 150 casualties per 100,000
population (3 to 4 times higher than some)
* Drivers aged 21 to 25 had the second highest rate at 119 casualties per 100,000 population.
Why, when and where did they die?
On average between 1999-2003, for drivers in the 16-25 year age group who were killed or seriously
injured:
* 38% of drivers who were killed had a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of .05 or above and 23% of
drivers seriously injured recorded a BAC of .05 or above
* 13% were not wearing a seat belt
* 54% occurred on Friday, Saturday or Sunday
* 24% occurred between 4-5pm, 6-8pm or 12-1am
* 53% were on country roads and 42% on roads signposted as 100km/h or 110km/h
* 63% were male.
What types of cars were involved?
Australian research found:
* Young drivers often drive older, cheaper vehicles that are likely to have fewer safety features than
newer vehicles
* most young drivers involved in fatal crashes were driving fairly ordinary cars
* very few were driving high-performance vehicles.
Night driving
Young drivers are more likely to drive at night and on weekends than older drivers.
* 55% of young drivers aged 16-25 are killed or seriously injured in crashes that occur during the
night compared with 37% of other drivers
* Nearly 40% of young driver serious casualties occurred on the weekend, compared with 30% for other
drivers.
Driving at night has unique hazards and requires more developed skills. All drivers have an elevated
crash risk at night. This is greater for younger drivers because of the lack of experience and higher
involvement in risk-taking.
This Information is sourced from Transport SA
I am a mother who has recently lost her 18-year-old son as a result of a Car accident
I am also an Aunty who lost her 17-year-old Nephew as a result of a car accident 8 yrs ago
Keep this going because this is my mission in life to help educate the younger ones, and hopefully
PREVENT another parent feeling the same way I do at this moment in time
G Prater
How am I going to get through the rest of my life without seeing my first born child?
No mother deserves to lose their child. When I was pregnant with Dion I was put into the hospital, suspect
ctg they said, so I was in for a rest. While I was there a lady was in giving birth to a stillborn full
term baby, it was then I realized that anything can happen, not once had I ever thought a woman could
go through a whole pregnancy only to have the baby die, just before birth, and even shortly after
birth. Then there was the worry about Cot Death. OMG I was so scared of losing Dion, to SIDS that I
hardly slept at night, and I was a huge supporter of Red Nose Day, Even my car had a Red Nose, once he
started walking ( see RUNNING), he used to come and sneak into my bed at night, he was ever so careful
not to wake me up that we never realized he was in our bed until we did wake in the morning, I used to
worry then that his father would crush him in the middle of the night, but he was always ok. Dion used
to sneak into my bed every night until he was about 7 years old. Husband never liked it, but I would
always say one day he won't do it anymore, and those times should be cherished. Also when I had to
continuously take him to the Doctors about his Ear Infections, sometimes he really used to burn up,
when he had tubes put in his ears a few times, I was in the room when the doctors would put him to
sleep for the procedure, I worried if he had a reaction to the GA and never wake up. Sometimes Dion if
he wasn't very well would sleep in my bed, even when he got much older. Dion loved the double bed. If
he was home sick from school that is where he would be. When Dion was 12yrs old he got Chicken Pox from
his youngest sister, ( so did the other 4 kids at the same time) that kid was covered and so crook, but
with love from his mum and lots of Pinetarsol, he got better. Dion never broke a bone in his body, but
boy did he get stitched up a LOT. I remember one time he was screaming blue murder at having his leg
stitched up, in the Casualty Department, a good family friend and ambo Dave was there listening to his
squawking, not knowing who it was, I came out of the room, and I told him he missed his chance of
holding the boy down, :) (Dion thought the world of Daves daughter since reception at school)
Then there was his Education I bent over backward to get him to learn how to read, I never ever
thought he would, and his writing skills Shocking. Dion was a bright kid, he would understand stuff if
it was FACT, and would rather read a newspaper than a novel. High School for the first year was ok, but
once he started working at Bilo/Coles he started to really slacken off, I was worried that if he didn't
get good grades or have a good attitude that his future would suffer for not having a decent education,
I went soft, I didn't insist on him going on school camps or retreats, and in the last 2 years I tried
to get him to see the bigger picture but he just wouldn't listen.
Then when he turned 16 yrs he got his learners permit, he flunked the first time and I thought GREAT
but eventually, he got it. Dion grew up in the shadow of his Cousin Jamies Death in a car accident at
the age of 17yrs. and we often spoke about Jamie, and the stupid choices that Jamie had made when it
came to driving, even though Jamie was a passenger in his own car when he died. Jamie and Dion were so
much alike in personality, Jamie had the Greek Determination, and Dion the German. Because I worried
about Dion driving, he kept his learners for 2 years. Dion was not a very good driver IMHO but I am his
mum, and I am very critical at young drivers since Jamie's death, but Dion was very confident, I was
scared that he would end up like Jamie, due to that overconfidence, sometimes he would listen, and
other times he thought he knew it all. not unlike any other teenager.
The worst day of my life happened on the 8 August 2007 when I got that visit from the Whyalla Police,
at 6.30 am to tell me that Dion had died when his father's car that he was driving hit head-on into a
Stateliner Bus, I didn't even know that Dion had gone to Adelaide that day. It took a little while to
sink in wondering if they had to right person, because as far as I was concerned Dion was at his home
in bed safe and sound. Can any teenager out there honestly say that a loving caring mother should have
to ever receive that news? To lose a child is a hard thing, whether it be stillbirth, baby, toddler
child or teenager and even adult. No mother deserves that but it happens, and to lose a young adult
child, you just cannot compare it, to any other.
Why am I writing this, well I guess I needed to get it off my chest, there are some people in this town
who thought that I didn't love my son and visa versa. Well I admit I was very frustrated with Dion
towards the end of his life, and I could see it coming a mile off. Maybe that is why it seems to others
that I have taken his death so well, or that I am so strong. NO, I am not strong, I just tried to
prevent happening to my son what happened to my nephew, and it didn't work. Dion is dead and he ain't
never walking through my front door ever again. I feel as if I have wasted 19 years of my life, for
what, nothing. no one is ever going to change that feeling, and nothing is going to bring back to me
the one person who mattered the most to me. Sure I have 5 other children, but my first child is the one
who taught me about being a mother. I loved and cared for him so many times and over so many years, but
people seem to forget that.
Dion was the special person he was because his mother loved him, and his mother taught him to be
confident, and to care for others.
It has been 13 weeks and I still haven't dreamed of Dion, I am not haunted by him, I sleep well at
nights knowing that I did that absolute best for him
Is it really an unhealthy obsession??
2 April 2008
Is it really really an UNHEALTHY OBSESSION to get woken up in the early hours of a Wednesday morning,
by the South Australian Police to inform you that your 18-year-old son is DEAD.
Well for Dion you couldn’t get much more UNHEALTHY than that. They scraped what was left of him
off the Eyre Highway in the early hours of 8 August 2007.
Sounds Graphic, doesn’t it. Well, it is meant to sound Graphic because that is EXACTLY what happened.
You see Dion had taken off to Adelaide on a Tuesday, with his girlfriend in his father's car, which I
from here on in I call THE HEAP. The Heap IMHO should NEVER have been on the road, let alone on the
Highway.
Now Coroners are still out on the Offical Cause of the accident, but it is believed that he fell asleep
at the wheel of the car. No doubt him being tired surely contributed to the accident happening, but as
his mum I am also looking at OTHER reasons why that crash happened. and to all his "Mates" as his
MOTHER I am allowed to question EVERYTHING about it.
It amazes me that people have this attitude that for the mother I should just GET OVER IT. Well I got
news for you lot, I will NEVER get over it. because like it or not Dion was part of me.
I have received many emails of support and thanks to those who have sent them, I have also had a couple
of emails from Dion's "mates" who told me to get over it. This Blog is aimed at you. and you know
who you are.
I will use Youtube and Myspace to post videos and photos of Dion's life and sadly his death in the hope
that the message gets across to young drivers. about the risks they take on the road, those same risks
that can end your life and the lives of innocent others. Yes I know that Kangaroos and Trees also jump
out onto the road into the path of cars and motorbikes, too.
I have stopped short of actually posting the photo of him in his COFFIN for all to see because I am
thinking of the "Mental Health" of the viewer. Who knows in time I might include that too, but to use a
a term that is COMMON to the youth of today and that is MY choice.
You may like to post videos and photos of yourselves and friends getting drunk, and shitfaced, dancing
half-naked at parties. and the like, Well I would like that same consideration if you don’t want to
see what I have posted then DON’T LOOK
I refuse to curl up in a ball in the corner and let my son's death mean NOTHING.
Dion is a statistic 67 of 2007 to be exact, You may want to FORGET and Not be reminded of him. but I
will never forget.
Drive safe everyone, and if you don’t want to be part of my extended network, you know how to click the
remove button. I just hope that on the day that your parents are given the news about you, that they
have someone there who will give them unconditional support.
Results are in
Toxicology results are in for Dion
12 April 2008
16mg per litre paracetamol ( Therapeutic levels)
NO ALCOHOL, NO COMMONLY USED DRUGS found in his system at all
I can be extremely PROUD that Alcohol and Drugs were NOT a contributing factor in the car crash that
ended in his death.
That officially dispells ONE RUMOUR if anyone wants to know any more message me.
The first 12 months
Current mood: relaxed
18 May 2008
All too often I hear after a significant loss, that the first 12 months is the hardest, to deal with.
I don't think so.
I am now looking at 9 1/2 months since Dion died and today I have spent many hours today, capturing
videos from my 8mm digital camera, and looking back on these videos from 2002 right up to June last
the year when the last time I filmed Dion playing with Brandy. 2002 Dion was in year 7 at school, who can
forget Family Night LOL, 2003 he started high school, the first day when I filmed him and the twins
who were starting their first day of reception, in 2004 he was joined at high school by his sister, The
Japanese visit and the combined mass, where all 3 schools are dancing the Bus Stop, 2005 it was a hard
year to get Dion on film but I got a couple of days in, same with 2006 Hoody and the kids chucking Dion
into his Aunty Ngarettas swimming pool, not too much on film, but some really classic stuff.
Then there was last year, March with Dion and Steph he used to walk her home from our house, his 18th
birthday, and the school night he went out with workmates and got PISSED as a Maggot and went into to
Coles and threw up all over Steph, Then she bought him home in a Taxi he threw up again, had to pay a
pile of money to clean the cab, she was WILD. at him for doing that, and then him playing with Brandy.
Who would have ever thought that he would be where he is today. Looking back on these videos his smile,
his voice going from a squeaky kid into a young man with a deep voice. How much he grew, he was only
4'10 inches tall when he started High school, and before he died he was just on 6 foot tall.
When I think about what people have said to me since he died, finding out that was hard, not nice to be
told by the cops that your son is dead, and you didn't even know he had gone out of town.
The anger at him doing something so stupid. Then there was the formal identification of Dion, to see
him in Port Augusta Morgue, still and not smiling, cold to touch, face scratched up, 2 massive black
eyes, and his lovely hair, and all I wanted to do was hug him, but the ex-husband was there too, talk
about making me feel even angrier.
Then to go and see the car or what was left of it. Yep that was OK if I had of had a camera with me I
would have taken photos of the lot, but I felt that I had to consider those around me, they wouldn't
understand why. Trying to show some dignity in front of the Ex-Husband when all I wanted to do to him
was Punch him to the ground, for letting Dion commandeer his car, a car that was basically a heap of
shit. But I kept my composure.
To see a family friend who was there out on the highway the night Dion died, he tried to do his job,
and crumble at the thought of not being able to save him.
The Viewing, I took myself there, spent my alone time with him. Then the Funeral, wow what a send
off, and the wake afterward.
Then came his brother and sisters birthdays, 2 days apart, in September, his other sister singing in
the choir a month later, then her birthday then Christmas, New Years and Mine and the twins birthday,
NO Dion, Then finally I was able to bring his ashes home, at the end of Feb, after 5 1/2 months of them
sitting on a shelf at the back of the funeral parlor, Easter came and went, then his 19th birthday.
then Mother's day. so far the first 12 months haven't been too bad.
The WORST is yet to come, not the first year, but the rest of my life.
That is by far the hardest knowing that I will NEVER experience the last 18 years and 3 months of his
life. again.
Not seeing him reach 21 yrs, 25yrs, 30 yrs, etc marry or have children of his own.
That is the hardest part of losing a son.
I have hundreds of photos and lots of videos of my boy, and it just aches that, his friends will go on
with their lives. his twin brothers probably won't be able to recall much of him as they get older, and
his brothers and sisters telling their children one day that they USED to have a brother called Dion.
The few items I have of Dion's will slowly disintegrate, his clothes, his shoes, his footy boots, his
Monaro Quilt cover set, and pillows they will all go, all I will be left with is the memory of his
smile.
There is no cure for Grief.
When Dion died part of me died as well.
Dionsmum
Message about Dion by Sammy B
22 May 2008
This is what one of Dion's favorite teachers had to say about Dion when he was a student at St Teresa's
Primary School, Dion never had Sam B as a teacher, although he was often sent into his Class for "Time
Out" It was read out at his funeral.
Dezza, what a legend, an absolute gem.
It was a pleasure having Dezz around at St Teresa's because he would make Mr. Anderson and I laugh so
much.
Whenever Dezza was naughty Mr. Anderson would send him into my classroom. So I saw Dezza everyday….
You could not help but warm to his cheeky grin and the funny walk he would do when he was in trouble.
There was nothing funnier than 'Dion Prater in trouble.' Keeping a straight face was impossible. He
was a loveable larrikin.
To this day Mr. Anderson and myself still talk about Dezza…
Who could forget the day when Mr. Anderson asked him to clean his tray out so he walked to the classroom
window on the second floor and tipped everything out.…classic stuff. Gold.
Dezza has left us all with unforgettable memories and he will be sorely missed. We will never forget
him.
It was a pleasure being part of Dion's life.
Cheers for the memories Dezza!
God Bless
Mr. B
If only I could travel back in time
15 June 2008
What would you do if you could travel back in time??
What part of your past would you go back to and change??
What impact will that have on Future events in not only your life but the lives of others around you??
I saw the Butterfly Effect on DVD a few weeks ago and spent the time wondering and thinking would
the period in my current life would I go back to if I could?
would I go back to the week before Dion's death and take his fathers car off him?
Would I go back to October 2006 and tell Dion to not bother with Stephanie
Would I go back to October 1999 and tell Jamie and his friend Tim McRae not to go to Heaven Nightclub
in effect saving their lives
Would I go back to October 1998 and prevent Jamie from witnessing a drunk Driver plow through John
Boykos 4WD so Jamie wouldn't have to rescue 3 children and hear about John losing his battle to
survive a couple of days later.
Would I go back to September 1996 and do what I can to prevent Kieran McRae and his friend's drive over
the Zoo Bridge into the Murky Torrens River.
So many things have happened in my life that lead me to think of my own Butterfly Effect.
but think about it if Kieran McRae hadn't of died his brother Tim wouldn't have met Jamie. If that
lowlife drunk driver hadn't of plowed through John Boykos 4WD he wouldn't have distressed Jamie. If
Jamie and Tim hadn't of gone to Heaven Nightclub they wouldn't have hit those 2 trees and Dion wouldn't
have had to live in the shadow of his cousin's death.
Who knows what could of happened.
If I spent every hour of Every day wondering what I could have done in my past Dion would never have
ever existed. neither would his brothers and sisters.
Dion thought a lot of his family, he was the eldest, it saddens me when I see his sister Eva when doing
some boring myspace survey answer the question of how many siblings she has,
Eva, you have 4 brothers and 1 sister all who love you. Dion may not be here physically but spiritually
he is still very much around. Please don't ignore that he ever existed you have a brother who died.3
surviving brothers, a sister,
All Finalised
12 July 2008
What an interesting lot of information I got in the post yesterday, in the form of the Police
Investigation report into the car accident that claimed Dion's life. Along with his full death
certificate, Cause of death Multiple Injuries, yeah well of course, and Dion will not be prosecuted,
MMMMmmm didn't think that could happen given he paid the ultimate price.
it is ALL CLEAR NOW. I have finally got the filled in answers to my questions. and IMHO 3 people
contributed to him being on the road at that time of night and well one of them isn't here to tell his
story, but the other 2 well they will have to live with the events in the lead up to and that night for
the rest of their lives.
How well did you know Dion?
3 August 2008
You know peoples I am HAPPY Yes I am happy, but in the same breath I am really pissed off that some
people in this shithole of a town, THINK they knew my son better than I did. Boy have I got some news
for you.
1 year anniversary is coming up, 1 year since my son was taken from me, and I read all these comments,
a message from people who knew FUCK ALL about Dion, Yes the whole damned lot of you KNEW NOTHING.
I am not talking as a grieving mother either, I am talking as a person who looks on her myspace sees
it is full of people who didn't know Dion as a person, I have tried to share with you all. and I will
tell it as it is.
I was 25 years old when I had Dion, I made a conscious decision to be a Stay at home mother, so I didn't
miss out on anything. I documented Dion's life pretty well over the years, in a diary, I have thousands
of photos, and lots of videos.
Those who knew him at Bilo later to become Coles Supermarkets, you all knew him from the time he
started working there in April 2004, except maybe my cousins who also work there knew him a bit longer,
but still didn't know him that well. You knew him to be a quiet worker, but one who once found his feet
there, liked to have fun. Dion LOVED working at the supermarket, probably more than being at home and
definitely more than being at school.
Those who knew him only at Saint Johns College, you only knew him for the 4 1/2 years he was there, you
only ever saw him at school, you NEVER saw him outside of school, except maybe at work, Dion started
his time at SJC quite well, going through his belongings, and yes I have his awards of excellence, his
diaries etc. it was only after year 10 that he started to change
Those who knew Dion through St Teresa's Primary they knew him longer, some of those kids went right
through school with Dion, since Reception, many chose not to mix with him because they knew what he
could be like. Class Clown, Some of those kids at St Ts also had a LOT to do with Dion outside of
School and Work, we mingled as families with kids of similar age, Outside of school, Those families
have been there for me, they know what Dion was capable of, they knew of Dion's home life, and his
relationship with his family.
To his extended family what a pity you all didn't get to know Dion, very well distance does that to
families. Dion knew his nanna and aunties and uncles and cousins BECAUSE I made sure they did if I
wasn't ALLOWED out of town to see MY family then I made sure I phoned, I wrote letters, I sent photos
and videos, and I emailed. all so they could get to know Dion. Dion was 9 years old when his cousin
Jamie was killed in a car accident, he always remembered when Jamie used to come and stay with me, I
have some wonderful video of Dion and Jamie together, as for the OTHER family the Praters, Oma, and Opa
thought the sun shone out of Dion's ass, they could never see anything naughty about Dion, even if he
had done something wrong, Oma would not believe it, and his dad's brother and SIL and cousins, although
they spent the earlier years with Dion, they shared "The Money Game" when Dion's Opa died, Dion was the
last kid to speak to him when he was alive. Dion was about 10 years old when that happened.
Then there is the tempestuous relationship between Dion and his father, to ALL OF YOU I say this, Dion
may not have spoken much about his father to you, simply because he said "I don't talk about people
when I don't have anything nice to say about them" a young man of few words when it came to his dad.
I knew what Dion would say to me each time I picked him up from work " What Mood is IT in?" I would
then say good or bad. and leave it at that. Dion knew how to Play his dad against me if I said NO then
he would go to his dad, who would say YES, Dion knew that and milked it for EVERYTHING it was worth.
Then there are his Brothers and Sisters. They grew up with him, they saw his tantrums, they were
bullied at times by him, ( he was Big Brother you know) they also saw him get excited at Easter and
Christmas, and birthdays, the way Dion would blow out the candles on their birthday cakes, the mayhem
in mornings trying to get all kids to school on time, ( didn't work that often somedays ) they were
there when his father pushed Dion's head between the front door and the screen door, they were there
when if Dion did something against his OLDMAN; the old man would get up to punch him, and he would duck
and run. They were there when OLDMAN would yell scream and cuss at Dion for doing silly little things,
Then the Relationship between Dion and I.
Well I am his mum, I carried him for 42 weeks, I gave birth to him, I fed him, I bathed him, I cleaned
up his messes, I was there when he first stood up, when he crawled, when he walked, and when he talked,
I took him to Kindy, school, I was there when he had his surgeries, I was there when his fever spiked
at 42 C, I was the one who took him to the hospital, I was also the one to take his sister Eva to the
hospital when Dion broke her arm, the Ear problems he had, I listened to him read, I encouraged him to
be the best he could be, I covered his ass MANY times with school. I spoke openly and honestly to him,
he was there when I had the scan that showed twins. I encouraged him to say it as it was, students at
the school would say to Dion " Why Own up to what you did?" Dion would say it isn't worth lying over, he
would get in more trouble if he lied" Dion had the gift of the gab, he could sell ice to the Eskimos,
and in that I showed him how to show compassion for people worse off than him, he was polite and many
many people liked him for that, many times he was there when his father would take a seizure, he would
help me, sort him out, and on one occasion in Adelaide January 2000 he and his father stayed at my
brother inlaws house, and me at my sisters, well his dad took a particularly nasty epileptic seizure
and it was Dion at the age of 9 1/2 yrs who helped his dad as well as comfort his younger brother, he
would help anyone, in anyway, he could even at such a young age too, My 40th birthday thanks to bad
food from a local takeaway I wound up with a HUGE dose of food poisoning, I threw up in bed, in the loo
etc I passed out I was just so very sick and Dion Helped me. you know when I think back to that day I
was just so proud of him I was just so grateful that I had Dion there, to help with his younger
brothers and sisters, heck when the twins were babies he would sometimes even change a nappy for me,
when I was otherwise busy or he would put them in the bath for me. I also taught him how to drive.
most of his driving was done with me in the car alongside him, he was 16 when he got his learners, I
wasn't too happy about him getting them, especially after Jamie died.
Dion used to tell me to leave my husband, he said he wasn't worth going to gaol over, after 20 years
of nothing but abuse esp verbal and physically from my husband I reported the husband, it was the 2nd
time I had reported him, I was advised by the cops that it would only get worse, and they came to talk
to him about DV against me, well he ended up getting arrested and took him away, That shocked Dion,
and the other kids, I guess Dion took it for granted that I would just continue to stay in that
marriage, those who came to Dion's "18th" did you ever see his dad there? I think the answer would be
NO that would be because his father didn't want to Provide a decent party for him, so that day I gave
Dion permission to set up something makeshift in the shed, and invite some of his friends over, for
drinks, I am just sorry it wasn't any better for him.
YET when Dion discovered Girls I started to take a bit of a back seat, I was fine with that, Dion knew
some very nice girls, one time he tried to pretend he was home one night when in fact he was also at a
party around the corner In Hobbs St he would make an appearance every now and again, making it look
like he was home, but each time he came in he couldn't walk properly I knew this was the first time I
had seen him drunk, that particular night he literally FELL through the back door, he would come home
from a night out on the grog, with drawings all over his face. and what about the night that he was
that drunk after going to Centrals with Matt and John from work, he threw up in the taxi he went into
Coles Pissed and threw up all over Stephanie, and her school bag and shoes etc, I ended up taking her
home, she was WILD at him, I didn't blame her, I think it was pretty irresponsible of him to go out and
hit the grog on a school night, I didn't condone Dion going out and getting drunk, as I am not a big
drinker myself. I don't see the point in wasting money on alcohol.
Then Dion suddenly left home, I wasn't too happy about it, but well he was over 18 yrs and I would knew
to give it a chance it won't be long and he would have to come back home to live, he took the lounge
suite leaving his brothers and sisters NOTHING to sit on in the lounge room, so a could of friends let
me borrow a lounge suite, till I could afford to buy one, Dion would be back after realizing just how
good and cheaper it was a home, I was also prepared that if the shit hit the fan to let Steph live
here, as she had led everyone to believe that she had been kicked out of home, something that NEVER
happened, I was looking forward to him getting his first electricity bill. LOL he was too busy buying
JUNK that he never even paid his phone bills.
Sadly the rest is history, he moved out and it only lasted a week before he died.
I had to go to Port Augusta to Identify my dead son at the morgue. and hear the bullshit his father was
speaking at the cop shop. Yes I am pissed off at the way Dion died, but you know what IT HAPPENED for
a reason. The story about that accident I know now, and it is an accident that should NEVER have
happened. but you know what I sleep well at night knowing that I did EVERYTHING I could. I wish I had a
time machine to go back and try to prevent this all from happening. but if I did that, well Dion would
never of been born, Not much good came out of my 20-year marriage, but my kids would have been the best
part, I know the FULL STORY now, and I don't give a shit what anyone thinks about the death of Dion, I
just hope someone learns from it.
I am going to write a book, whether it gets published or not is another matter, but I will write it.
How well did you know Dion??
My guess is not as well as I did.
RIP Dion 080808 1 year
I miss you so much, that words will never explain
I miss you so much, no one understands the pain,
You would help me so much on life's bumpy ride,
And in some way, I know you are right by our side
I miss our night time drives and lots of chats
I miss your cheeky smile,
you couldn't get better than that
I miss bitching with you about your dad
I miss your telling me what Eva gets up to
I miss you whinging about the others getting into your gear
you were always good for a listening ear
Oh and of course that Mightly GO CROWS cheer
No-one has a clue.
I don't know what to do
No-one has a clue how much you meant to me and how much it hurts not to have you here, I still can't
believe you're gone. I wish that I could have stopped you moving in with Steph, your love for her lead
you to your death
It's hard not having you here, I see your brothers and sisters dealing with the hurt each in their own
way, Eva has gone so quiet she hardly talks to me anymore, she even removed me from her myspace page, I
just wish she would talk to me more, and learn that I will never do anything to hurt her, I see the
hurt in her eyes, there was you and her now there is just her, she is also dealing with what Steph has
done to your memory, she had a good bloke in Hoody he wasn't perfect but he was there for Eva when she
needed him,I am so grateful that Eva didn't move in with you and Steph because I could have very well
have lost 2 kids that night not just you, the younger kids don't understand Roan is so angry Dana is
secretive, Adam oh Adam you would be so proud of him he is 10 years old and the top goal kicker, geez I
miss you and the others playing footy in my back yard, that is what has done it, when I see Adam I see
you, and Little Luke you know he loves the Crows as much as you did, and he takes such pride in looking
after all your crow's stuff,
I miss having you here to talk to. We used to bitch about your dad, I miss you saying "What Mood is IT
in" I wish everything would go back to normal, not a day goes by that I don't think of you.
I love you so much, my son,
Rest in peace Dion you will always be in my memory and a part of me forever.
Love Always from Mum xxxooo
What was lost on 08 08 07
24 August 2008
Today I have been thinking, mostly about what a certain 17 yr old girl had to say about that night,
that they lost EVERYTHING that night.
mmmm leads me to wonder what was lost that night and who lost it?
let me see, I lost a son, that is first and foremost, no escaping that, my kids lost their older brother
that night, the Girlfriend lost her boyfriend, no escaping that either.
now let me see who lost the most that night?? since the girlfriend is whining about how much she lost
that night lets see without making this some sort of competition lets see who in fact lost the most that
night.
DION DID
Dion lost EVERYTHING the night he died. in that accident
Dion, he lost the opportunity of becoming a full-fledged Coles Store Manager, he lost the ability to
play on the winning team in football in a Grand final, ( Centrals won last year), he lost the
opportunity of Driving, he lost the beauty of seeing the next sunrise and sunsets, he lost his
family hugs, he lost the chance of growing old, of bringing home his first Electricity Bill, phone
bill, he lost the opportunity of getting married, having children, of complaining how much utilities
cost, when raising children, he lost the opportunity of seeing his children make the same stupid
mistakes that he did. When I think about hit that night Dion lost a LOT, probably a lot more than
those of us left behind.
Now, what did the Girlfriend GAIN that night??
She simply refuses to see it but I will point out a few facts to her, she may have lost Dion. and not
get to realize the above stuff with him BUT she GAINED something very important that night, That was
HER LIFE.
She is alive, she survived what was a 200kph impact, she can still grow old, get married and have
children, She can still get all the education she needs to win the right job for her and earn all the
the money she so desires, she will get to move on in her life, and face those horrible utility bills that
we all get when we move away from home, she gets to see sunrises and sunsets, she gets to share family
hugs, But she seems to think that she lost EVERYTHING well Steph I am saying what you lost that night,
it not that much different to what I lost that night, the only difference is I INVESTED 19 years.
emotionally, physically socially you invested just 7 months of your life.
you can take what you learned that night, show some gratitude for it. you have gained a lot more than
what you show gratitude for.
Just me ranting I am allowed to
been a long time
22 June 2010
Current mood: relaxed
well it seems like forever since I last wrote a blog on here, so much has happened in the last 18
months. After sorting out the kids with counseling etc. I decided to go back to University, to
complete the course I started 2 weeks before Dion's death. This time instead of going through Charles
Darwin University, I decided maybe face to face. so I enrolled in Foundation Studies at Unversity of
South Australia, in March 2009 was the beginning of formal up to date education. Thankfully I got
credit transferred from CDU so I didn't have to do the computing side of the course.
I met some fantastic people during this course and became good friends. my first real research paper
I got a High Distinction it was on the Risk Factors involved in Road Fatalities of the 16 to 25 year
age group. At Uni it helps to study and do assignments on topics that are interesting, and being I had
experienced the Death of not only Jamie but also Dion it is the perfect topic for me.
I successfully passed the year, and that enabled me to apply for an undergraduate program at the Uni
Bachelor of Social Work, the LAST thing I want to be, but anyway this semester the courses I was doing
will help me in educating young people about the risks they take on the road, My grades sucked big
time and I will be switching disciplines next semester, as I thought Social Work is definitely not for
me. I enjoyed Sociology, and communications, Human Service provision and learned my perception on
psychology is not as I would have hoped it to be.
I have been spending a lot of time on Facebook, thus the reason I haven't been on here so long. This
year Uni is different for me. I don't know how long I will stick it out, but at least I am in an
educational sense better off now, than I was 3 years ago.
I have no significant other in my life, Albin's mother died in October last year, and Roan decided he
didn't want his dad to live alone and he went to live with him, it won't be long before Roan will have
to come back home to live with me, as soon as the shit hits the fan, it won't be long. Eva moved out
into her own place with a lovely girl called Sian. so I only have 3 kids at home now, 4 if you include
Dion, Yes I got to pick up his ashes in February 2008. so his ashes are in a glorious silver pirates
chest. in a cabinet I had custom made, which is aptly called Dion's cabinet, it has all his footy and
soccer trophies etc.
As for Steph, well just as I figured she found another bloke, just as I thought she would. She has
started up Happy families with him, and she has had a baby. good luck to her. and I am just so glad she
didn't name the baby after Dion.
well it is 1am, it is hard to believe Dion has been gone for nearly 3 years. All his friends have got
on with their lives. and me as a mum I still miss him more than ever before. This is just something I
have to live with. I know he hangs around, and I can only show my gratitude for having him as long as
I did.
All is good, and my boy Dion would be 21 years old now. geez, he was short-changed.
My Point is PROVEN
25 April 2011
on 8 August 2007 after finding out my son was dead, I mentioned the fact that a few years down the
track Dion would just be a distant memory for those he knew at school. He would become the kid who died
in Year 12, see it is all just BS initially people go on in reaction to the death, they learn life is
short. they go on about how Dion will always be remembered, never be forgotten. YES it has all been
proven. as time goes by do they really give a shit?? if he is alive or dead. My answer is NO they are
too busy going about their day to day activities, without even so much as a second thought to Dion. It
is only when something tragic happens such as the deaths of 2 of his school friends recently that
people will remember Dion too and how he is no longer here, and the really sad thing is, eventually the
mums and family members of Dion's school friends will come to realize what I realize today. In the end
what the family thought is what really counts, the relationship you had with your child is all that
matters, anything anyone else has said to you about your child is nothing compared to your thoughts and
how you feel. It really does become like they never existed.
When children die, the bond doesn't break... (but) the parents face two mutually exclusive facts. The
child is gone and not coming back, and the bond is...as powerful a bonding as people have in their
abilities... (Bereaved parents attempt) to let go, not of the child, but of the pain. ~ Ann
K.Finkbeiner "After the Death of a Child: Living with Loss Through the Years"
yep I know my son is gone and not coming back, and that the bond my son and I had will NEVER break. and
know what that is all that is important despite whatever others have said at the time of the child's
passing.
To any other mum out there who have lost their adult child, especially if that child also knew my son
Dion, rest assured I will not forget them either.
Geniene Prater 2011
1st July 2011
guess the countdown to your anniversary is on Dion, today Friday 1 July 2011 it seems just like
yesterday when you left this plane of existence. as shocking as it is. it seems that since that rotten
event many more doors have been opened for me and your brothers and sisters. I am well on the way to
getting into a career to do with Road Safety. Hey I went to Sydney I climbed that bridge you know the
one you challenged me to back in 2007 when you saw the Biggest Loser Fatties climb up there, the view
was awesome. I loved having the opportunity to travel not only to Sydney but also to Canberra to attend
the Australasian Road Safety Conference. I couldn't believe how many dedicated people there are who
are trying like me to lower the road toll. The dedication is amazing, yeah it seems much of the
technology invented and implemented seems to be for revenue-raising for the Government, what is really
needed is Politicians to COMMIT to lowering the Road toll without using it as a money-making venture.
Canberra is a very pretty city I am sure you would have liked it there in the area it didn't seem too much
bigger than Whyalla, but a lot classier than this shithole. And Sydney such a totally awesome
place. so much that in December I took Roan, Dana Adam, and Luke on a road trip to spend a week there. I
took them up to the top of the Sydney Tower and the memories made there are some of the best I have
ever had. How many years did we watch Carols in the Domain on TV well last year we were actually there,
I know you were there in spirit and I can't wait to the day when I can move over that way permanently
there is nothing in Whyalla or South Australia for me anymore. Who knows maybe one day I will meet
someone who takes me as I am. and accepts me for who I am. and appreciates the passion for Road Safety
that I have. and accepts that I have kids, and Knowing because of Jamie and You and I have learned more
than any University could ever teach me. One day I guess I will find someone worthy of me and what I
have to offer in the way of true affection. I don't know if I have met that person or not I guess it
will all happen when I least expect it.
Adam looks more and more like you every day, he has the same grin and the same mischievous manner and
a sense of humour. It is sad that you never got the chance to drive the twins to their first day of high
school. So many of the teachers see a bit of you in each of the 4 kids. My car is loving them all on
the one campus now.
and who would have guessed that I would be in the same Uni class as one of your mates from school? I
see a sadness in his eyes I am sure he misses you although probably too proud to admit it to anyone,
Typical Male.
This year there has been a lot of death of young people in Whyalla I think that each one of those
parents will soon learn how thoughtless people are, at time of death when it is all so raw people say
all sorts, eventually it does become like they don't exist, but I remember and they remember that is
the important thing.
guess this is my rant for now. who knows maybe one day these blogs although few and far between will be
published in your book. As Long as I live Dion I will never forget you I will not allow myself to and I
really don't give a flying fuck what anyone thinks or says.
