Aussie crash victims remembered as generous individuals

The two Australians killed in this week's air crash in France are being remembered as generous and caring individuals.

Carol Friday (l) and Greig Friday

Carol Friday (l) and Greig Friday

The two Australians killed in this week's air crash in France - Carol and Greig Friday - are being remembered as generous and caring individuals, who'd help anyone in need.

The pair were passengers on the Germanwings Airbus A320 plane en route from Barcelona to Dusseldorf when it crashed in the French Alps.

It was a trip of a lifetime for 68-year old Melbourne nurse Carol Friday and her 29-year old son Greig.

It ended in tragedy.

Greig's former manager at Jacob's Engineering company in Melbourne Sarah Alper says staff have been left devastated.

"It's really devastating because our memory of him is that he was so happy and so excited about his adventure, it is just really sad."

It was a final holiday together before Greig took up a teaching position in France.

He had been working an engineer, but Ms Alper says Greig also volunteered to train new migrants in how to get a job in Australia.

"He gave all of himself and not just when he was volunteering, but he was interested in people he would take the time to talk to people and listen to them and he was just a very caring person."

Carol Friday, a nurse for more than 40 years, had dedicated her life to helping others.

Lisa Fitzpatrick, from the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, says Carol's work with both Indigenous and refugee communities was testament to her generous spirit.

"She's worked with Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory she's a woman who's demonstrated that her social perspective in helping others is not something she's just done in her working life but she's certainly been involved with working with refugees when they came from Kosovo to Australia back in the late 90s."

Neighbours from their quite suburban street in the south-east Melbourne suburb of Ashwood say they're shocked at the news.

"She's lovely very nice lady, very kind very softly spoken.//To find this kind of news is heart renching to be honest, I'm still in shock."

The family has issued a statement.

They say Carol and Greig "were both extraordinary and exceptional people who were loved by many, who they loved in return. They will forever be with us in our hearts, memories and dreams."

Colleagues of Greig and Carol say it was their tireless work to help others in the community that will be remembered.

Greig also volunteered with the Victorian Aids Council and was involved with the Monash Student Association and the Gay and Lesbian Engineers at the university.

Carol spent 30 years caring for babies as a maternal child health nurse in the City of Casey, and 10 years as a midwife at the Royal Women's Hospital.

Lisa Fitzpatrick from the Nursing and Midwifery Federation says she has touched thousands of lives.

"I'm sure that there are thousands of mother babies and families who are much better, had wonderful care and made it thorough those early years as a result of Carol Friday."

 


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3 min read

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By Abby Dinham



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