So sorry to hear this, my family is from over that way and I know how bad some of the roads can be.  What a stupid waste when it could so easily have been avoided.  Sending healing vibes to Jess and hope to have some good news soon.

I'm so angry about this.. a couple of friends and I sat on the back deck of the property I live on, just Childers side of Dallarnil - we watched the ambulance come screaming past, and we watched the helicopter come racing in.. I knew before I heard it, what had happened! (This stretch of the Isis Highway is always busy with bikes on a Sunday)
I drive every day to work on that stretch of road, Dallarnil to Biggenden, and it really WAS an accident waiting to happen! The "pothole" that caused Jess to go airborne seriously WAS like a fucking ramp! The roadworks warning sign definitely was only for "stone throw damage, 60km/hour", and it was not blaringly obvious! I've been driving a ute with high suspension and I was slowing down to 40km/hour because I knew it was there.. Jess would not have stood a chance on her big low road bike!
Even before they did the first patch job, BEFORE the 60km an hour advice was posted, that section of road was dangerous - I kept warning anyone I knew of coming out to my place, it's definitely a slow down to 40 and watch what's in front of you and I'd hate to be on a bike coming at that. Jess makes me kick myself that I didn't do something public about it then and there!
Just to kick another level onto my anger, the very next morning, while I was on-route to work, low and behold, they have started refixing that section of road!! I forgot to mention that the initial patch up job ended up resulting in that section of road being even more dangerous than it was before-hand! The up-ramp pothole was a result of their gravel patchup eroding away at the start of the pre-existing bitumen! especially considering its a main highway to prime movers and B-doubles, something that was obviously going to happen, together with the ongoing rain!
But go figure, council had the resources to redig, gravel and asphalt that section of road the day AFTER this accident, why did they not finish it sooner? Even having said that, its only a patch job.. the start and finish of the new to old asphalt still has humps potentially dangerous to bikers, especially if inexperienced.
I think Charls said Jess was travelling at maybe 70/80, but any bike would go airborne over the way that pothole ramped upwards, and a big heavy bike like that probably would easily travel the 50 metres on its side that it did, even at only the advised 60km/hour. Hell, at 40km/hour any bike hitting it would be in trouble, little lone a big Harley!
I've been putting whatever prayer it is in me out to Jess since the beginning of this devastating event in her life, as I know many other fellow bikers are doing also. There is no doubt, that even if recovery of some extent is gifted to Jess and her family and loved ones, her life will never be the same. Somebody needs to answer to this, as I am sure Jess family and loved ones will want to pursue once they have a moment to take stock... I for one, am willing to stand up in a court of law and tell what I know!
Cheers, Tracy

G`day All , yeah Tracy wouldn`t that be the freakin usual , after someone seriously comes to grief , they attempt too fix the fault the very next day , sad truth of the matter is that that happens all too often and your right maybe it should of or could of been fixed before hand and no ones lifes should have been turned upside down because of any road damage or repairs anywhere , though one can tell that you are obviously just as traumatised , pissed off and touched as much as the rest of the girls in the group that actually witnessed the terrible accident unfold before them would be !
I for one and also you can see by the responses from this forum , that many do see and worry about the almost daily senseless and avoidable deaths of fellow bike riders and have Jess` recovery in their thoughts and hope that Jess pulls through this and is now making some sort of progress on her obvious massive injuries and future hurldles that lay ahead in rehabilitation , but one has to worry that Charls87 hasn`t posted for near 2 weeks even though she reported slight signs of hope and inroads had been made by Jess in her last post , even though still in induced coma !
Maybe Charls87 can conect with ya and you can help in making a statement about the conditions and state of the said piece of road for Jess and her family , but you can`t beat yourself up for not doing anything before hand as no one could fore see such a tragic occurance even though you obviously seen it as a hazzard and accident waiting too happen , take care Tracy and try to keep ya chin up , Cheers , Skin

Hi guys,
sorry for not posting sooner, i thought i had posted on the weekend.
a couple of the girls went and saw Jess last weekend and a few more of us are going this weekend.
Jess is showing promise, she is moving one of her arms now and one of her legs, unfortunately it is not in response to anything.
Jess still has a very long way to go.
In no way do i blame myself, it was completely an accident,
however it was an avoidable accident, as the pothole shouldn't have been there and IMHO i feel there was not enough signage.
I have to give a statement next wednesday night, so i was thinking i will print this all out and show the police.
I am not sure if they will contact you Tracy and Scotti but I hope they do. I am sure other locals that c ome down to help us will give statements,
they were the ones that told us it had been unfixed for 3 weeks.
I will be in touch next week.
If i forget please send me a reminder,
PS> thanks for all your thoughts and prayers,
I will be letting Jess know that everyone is wishing her better, and I will also let her mum know of the support thats out there.
thanks everyone
regards
Charls

Cheers Skin and thanks Charls, and definitely yes, use me however you can that might help Jess and her family. My email is tracymf1966@bigpond.com - if you private message me I can send you my other contact details... all the best, Tracy

Hi Tracy I too was on the ride just behind Jess and this world needs alot more people especially like yourself and to all the others that have sent your support you all are amazing. Thank you, we will all get through this just as Jess will once again be with us whether it be on the back, in a car or any other way we can get here there! That I'm sure of, we have to be. Thanks to you all.

sending my thoughts and prayers......

Please keep us posted on how Jess is doing, cheers

My thoughts and prayres are with Jess. I hope she pulls through.

 

With All the money they make from revenue cameras,our Rego's you think they would spend some of it to make our roads safer.

But no they spend it in making more red light speed and noise cameras to improve saftey on our roads but neglect re-sealing or fixing pot holes. When she pulls through i hope she sews the loacal council for no warning signs.

 

YOGI..............

Hey everyone.
Well we took a trip to see Jess on Saturday and i must say we were all really excited as to how well she seems to be doing.
She has movement on her right side, she was moving both her arm and her leg (even had a go at her tracki pipe there for a while)
She is able to look around and was looking at us all through out most of our visit. We had other friends visit Jess last weekend and she seems to have come a long way.
It has only been 3 weeks and she is having her tracki out so thats a great sign (there was talk of 6 months)
It probably doesnt sound like a lot of improvements, however with such a bad injury her progress is great, Jess' mother did tell me that the doctors were very surprised of how fast she is coming along.
Thanks everyone for your wishes, I have told Jess' mum about this page so i hope she feels welcomed and warm by seeing how many people do truely care.
regards
Charls

hmm, i can see i am going to cop it later tonight lmao
Sorry Mick :-) but you should have logged out

great news...

That's great Charls I'll keep praying and believing for a speedy recovery. God is on our side.

Great news......you go girl. Think i may have met these girls around the ridges once or twice, cant remember names but there was a mum and daughter in the group, Anyways Jess our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family and friends.

My thoughts are with you Jess , hope you get better soon , DAMM THESE COUNCILS AND THE LACK OF ATTENTION TO OUR ROADS ....

G`day All , yeah great news for Jess and her family hey and i hope her recovery progresses rapidly too full and complete rehabilitation to the point that she`ll ride again one day soon , good to hear that she is now conscious , has partial movement and they are all aware of the support , thoughts and well wishers out there for her , hang in there Jess ! Cheers , Skin

Jess has lifted her head 2 inches off this Pillow, You go Jess!!!

On another matter, I gave my statement today, the lady was awesome, she was really wonderful and helpful with the whole thing.
I jsut want everyone to realise how important statements are. If anyone is ever involved in an accident or a witness to anything, please sit down and write it all down as you remember it and add to it as things come back to you,
I did mine today, a month and 3 days after the accident. and i had trouble remembering everything.


It is important that you remember everything step by step, i remembered it up to 2 weeks after the accident, but everything has been so hectic in the past month i have forgotten some of the events and their order.

 

That's great news and thanks for the update. Please pass our best wishes and Harley Hugs to young Jess.

 

Such awesome news to hear of the hope in Jess early recovery! Thanks so much, made my night.. never underestimate the power of positive thoughts in unity.. we're all with you girl!

Good to hear.