Inspector Kevin Taylor, Senior Sergeant Nicola Riordan and Constable David Mear, spent many hours with us and at all times demonstrated patience, kindness, respect and professionalism. Equally, Sergeant Chris McLeod and Constable Pete Jones were courteous and helpful at this very distressing time.
Our short time in New Zealand did not enable us to meet with Rotorua's Blue Watch crew of the New Zealand Fire Service under the command of Hamish Smith. We nonetheless wish to thank them and the amazing St John Ambulance and rescue helicopter personnel for their professional, expedient, utmost care and attention at the scene of the accident. To the many motorists travelling the highway at the time and the attending hospital medical staff, we share with you our appreciation for the care you took of Gabriel's traumatised friends.
One of the most important people to acknowledge is the driver of the Fonterra milk tanker involved in the collision. We want him to know that we are aware he did everything possible to avoid this terrible accident. We understand that he is as much a victim of this as our beloved Gabriel and that we extend our best wishes for his recovery.
Our heartfelt thanks also go to the very compassionate Sonia Wilson and Sheryl Martin from Victim Support for their incredible understanding, patience and attentiveness.
Mary Ellen Bell, resident of Reporoa, who was one of the first on the scene, holds a special place in Pamela's heart, for mother to mother she shared her belief that Gabriel was sleeping at the time - for the look of peace on his face.
Thank you also to Mary Tate-Jamieson from the Tauranga Waldorf School for her incredible warmth, clarity and strength - whenever we turned for help, she was there.
To Samantha Callinan from the Australian High Commission in Wellington and Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ethan from ACE Assistance and Steven Roberts from Osbornes, thank you.
The staff at Millennium Rotorua, Air New Zealand and Virgin Australia, we acknowledge you with our appreciation and thanks to Neways NZ for their generosity and support.
Thank you also to the Rotorua Florists and the staff at the local hardware store, Mitre 10 Mega, who made and painted a road side cross for us in a matter of an hour with no prior notice.
Finally, our thanks to Richard Ellis from the New Zealand Coroner's Office for his openness, patience, understanding and continuous support in the months to come.
There have been so very many exceptional people worthy of our gratitude. If there is someone we have not mentioned, please accept our thanks.
We have been devastated by Gabriel's early, untimely death just at the time when he was coming into his own as a beautiful, gentle young man with a life time full of adventure and discovery ahead of him. Amongst our family and friends, Gabriel was known to be both a bright star and a true angel who bought a gentle kindness, unbridled joy, light and love to the lives of those he touched.
May he continue to shine his light for all those people who helped his precious young friends and self at this sad and most tragic of times.
From Pamela, Derrick and Godwin Runge.
