Couple who were killed when a freight train ploughed into their car were about to embark on trip of a lifetime around Australia
- Couple killed when train smashed into car were embarking on a trip of lifetime
- Ron Matthews and Margaret Moffatt were dropping off their dog at the time
- Their four wheel drive was smashed by the freight train on Thursday afternoon
- Much loved community members were pronounced dead at the scene
A much-loved couple killed when a freight train smashed into their car were getting ready to embark on their dream trip around Australia.
Ron Matthews, 73, Margaret Moffatt, 66, and their dog, Cookie, were killed on Thursday outside Mallala in South Australia when the train collided with their 4WD.
The couple were taking their dog to a friend’s house when the collision occurred, leaving the Mallala community devastated at the loss.
Much-loved couple Ron Matthews and Margaret Moffatt (pictured) were about to embark on a trip of a lifetime travelling around Australia when they were killed
Both were active community members who would volunteer anywhere they could and contributed to community events every chance they got.
Mr Matthews was a longtime Lions Club member and helped out at the local football club on a regular basis.
Mrs Moffatt also volunteered at the football club and was the catering manager at the Mallala Bowling Club.
Mallala Bowling Club president Andrew Parsons told The Advertiser both were tireless workers in the community.
‘When she [Mrs Moffatt] wasn’t volunteering at the football club, she was catering manager at bowls or the netball club. We lost community people. They embraced the community and the community embraced them,’ Mr Parsons said.
He said he didn’t know how the community would cope with the loss of such generous people who were loved by all.
‘Ron won’t be out at the racetrack collecting all the cans for 10c to create a donation for the Lions Club to give to some community organisation. That’s when he’ll be missed,’ he said.
The couple were dropping their dog, Cookie, to a friend when they were struck by the freight train just outside Mallala, in South Australia
Both were pronounced dead at the scene along with their dog, devastating residents ofd Mallala community where they were pillars of the community
‘Marg, when working in the canteen or the football club kitchen on a Thursday night and you need an extra pair of hands, they won’t be there.’
The bowling club flew the flag at half-mast on Friday in memory of the couple.
The Pacific National train was travelling south towards Adelaide when it collided with the pair’s 4WD on Thursday afternoon.
The car was pushed some distance along the track after the impact, leaving dog food cans strewn across the tracks.
Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigations continue into the incident, which took South Australia’s 2020 road toll to 19, compared with 17 at the same time last year.
Mallala Bowling Club president Andrew Parsons said both Mrs Moffatt (pictured) and Mr Matthews ’embraced the community and the community embraced them’