By KATH GANNAWAY
Eleven-year-old Chloe Blackney and 50-year-old Gary Theobald shared so much that was dear to them.
Friendship and family were the things that brought them together and it was friendship and family that they were celebrating when they were tragically killed in an horrific car crash at Kinglake on Saturday, 15 February.
“We lost our daughter and our best friend in one day,” Chloe’s dad Simon said last week as he and wife Kylie spoke of the family friendship that grew from a kindergarten play date in 2007.
The Theobalds were the first family they met when they moved from Yarra Glen to Launching Place.
“We know that Gary is looking out for Chloe, as we are looking out for Hayley and Lachlan,” Kylie said.
Gary was taking his daughter Hayley and son Lachlan to Funfields in Whittlesea for Hayley’s 12th birthday. Naturally, Chloe as her inseparable ‘bestie’, was with her.
Gary, and Chloe who was sitting behind him, died when a truck crossed into their path on the Healesville-Kinglake Road at around 9am. Hayley and Lachlan on the passenger side were uninjured.
The loss of two beautiful people has devastated their close-knit families and the Launching Place Primary School (LPPS) community where Chloe and Hayley shared the excitement of moving into their final year, as Grade 6 students.
“She was looking forward to so much this year; talking about graduation and her dress, and looking forward to her birthday in July,” said Kylie, who added she had just moved into her own room, another rite of passage for the pre-teen.
“We were so proud of how she was developing and changing from a lovely, shy little girl and blossoming into a beautiful, confident young lady,” her mum said.
They described the girl with the cheeky grin as full of life, who loved aerobics and cooking and was loving, affectionate, funny and mischievious.
They said Gary was a great friend and a great dad who had a very special bond with his children and a great sense of fun which made him good to be around.
Hayley and Lachlan’s mum Fiona said they were still coming to terms with the terrible crash and losing both their dad and their friend.
She said Gary was a wonderful, caring and loving dad who was very involved with the Woori Yallock Junior Football Club where Lachlan plays.
“He was a fun dad who loved his fishing, good times with his mates and was a mad Collingwood supporter,” she said.
Of the friendship between Hayley and Chloe, Fiona said it was very special.
“We all loved having Chloe around. We used to sing and muck around, everything made her giggle. She was a beautiful girl, always laughing. They had a great friendship,” she said.
“Hayley was wearing her ‘BFF’ Best Friends Forever T-shirt on the day,” she added.
Both families have spoken of the support they have received from family, friends and the Launching Place school community.
“The people we have had around us all in the past few days, you would not get in a big city. Without that support it would be a lot harder to get through,” Kylie said. “We appreciate that so much.”
Launching Place Primary School principal Narelle Messerle paid tribute to Chloe, describing her as a gorgeous, outgoing student who was actively involved in everything and a much-loved member of the school’s sensational aerobics team.
She said the loss of two people from their school community had been deeply felt by the students, parents and staff.
Counselling has been put in place and Ms Messerle said the school had had offers of support through Lilydale Police and Yarra Ranges Council.
“The community is pulling together,” she said.
A service will be held for Chloe at the Heritage Pioneer Chapel in Woori Yallock at 11am on Wednesday, 26 February.
The funeral service for Gary is yet to be finalised.
Detective Senior Constable Mick Hardiman of the Victoria Police Major Collisions Squad said investigations were continuing into the crash, with the driver assisting in their inquiries.
