“DAVE was on his way to my home to pick me up as we were going out for dinner that night,” recalls Carol.
“When he was late, I started to worry and tried to call him. He didn’t answer and I was getting concerned.
“Then I saw his number come up when my phone rang, I was so relieved. But when I answered it was to hear the voice of one of the emergency personnel who told me that Dave had been in a serious accident.”
Carol can say those words now without faltering, but it has taken many days and the news that he is expecting to be moved from the ward to the PA Hospital’s rehabilitation centre this week, to achieve that level of calm.
The two vehicle collision at the intersection of the Thagoona Haigslea Road and the Karrabin Rosewood Road at Thagoona that evening caused Dave’s Mini Cooper to spin out of control before the driver’s side crashed into a ‘giveway’ sign.
“His serious injuries were all along his right side,” Carol says. “He had a large head laceration, a broken right wrist, five broken bones in his right foot, a shattered femur that left an open wound and various other injuries.”
Carol praised the emergency personnel at the scene for their expediency and care and was particularly thankful that Dave knew three of them well.
“I know that helped.”
Dave was flown by helicopter to the PA Hospital where his initial emergency treatment included a brain scan to check for internal bleeding.
“There was no bleeding on the brain, which was a great relief to hear,” Carol says.
He underwent surgery the next day and now has two plates in his right leg and a plate in his wrist. Add to that, seven staples to secure the head laceration.
“Those first days after the accident had us all extremely worried but on the Wednesday [August 7] he became more responsive and was able to eat something,” says Carol who shared the bedside vigil with Dave’s daughter, Alarna.
“She has been amazing, she really has … and Dave’s son Montie has visited regularly and his son, Cameron, who is in a shared care house, is looking forward to visits when his father comes home.”
Carol is already planning the best rehabilitation for Dave when he returns to his Rosewood home.
She laughed as she explained: “He’ll be in a wheelchair for a while so I plan to take him down to Harry’s Cafe regularly and give him time to chat to all his friends.”
But that is some time away, in fact it could be six weeks before he is able to return home.
“Dave is lucky to be alive,” Carols adds, saying that, “he may not think so at the moment due to the pain, but the Dave we know will be back.”
Carol says the family, and now Dave, have been overwhelmed by the messages and support that have been sent by so many people.
“They come from all walks of life … the messages began the night it happened after people saw what they thought may have been his Mini Cooper in the accident … so many messages like ‘Palkes tell me that wasn’t your Mini Cooper in the accident’.
“Once the news filtered through that Dave was seriously injured, the messages of love and support came from everywhere … from MPs and former MPs, from Councillors and former Councillors, from people Dave helped when he was in Council for all those years, from people throughout the community.
“The messages have been overwhelming … and wonderful.”
