The close-knit community came together on Sunday with a barbecue to celebrate "life" - and the miracle that none of its young students or much-loved bus driver were seriously injured in a school bus accident on Towamba Road on Thursday, January 29.
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It could have been a major catastrophe but luck was on the side of the school bus when the driver, Paul Consodine, suffered a medical episode.
Not only did the accident happen close to the Princess Highway which meant that there was mobile phone reception, but the bus rolled onto the upside of the cutaway.
Driver Paul Considine couldn’t praise 16-year-old Eden Marine High School student Greg Comparini highly enough.
“He saved my life,” Mr Considine said.
“I was suspended two metres in the air by my seat belt and Greg took my weight for half an hour till the ambulance arrived.
"He wiped blood and spit from my mouth and nose, and all the while I was having a fit.
"He’s a hero and I can’t thank him enough,” he said.
Mr Considine was in Bega Hospital for five days after the accident during which time he received many get-well cards from the students.
"They’re a caring bunch of kids - it was very touching," Mr Considine said.
"When I saw the picture in the paper [Eden Magnet] of the bus on its side I cried for three days worrying about the kids and hoping they were all okay.”
The Southern Valley Folk Club performed at the barbecue, while many of the younger attendees played handball and other games.
Student Maybel Ashburn said it was like the accident was happening in "slow motion".
"It was good we had seat belts on, otherwise it would have been whaooo," she said.
Towamba Progress Association president and barbecue organiser Tony Ovington said Mr Considine had been the school bus driver for about six years and had seen many of the children grow up.
Mr Ovington praised Mr Considine for always ensuring that his young passengers wore seatbelts.
"The seatbelts saved the students from being seriously injured, or worse," he said.
"We're proud of our kids," Mr Ovington said.
"They are pretty resilient country kids who stick together and know how to make commonsense decisions under tough conditions," he said.