The cruel twist of fate that means Eleanor Bryant’s family grieves twice

On a cool country evening in a storybook town, the sky is covered in broad streaks of autumnal orange and blue.

A large flock of geese waddle along the roadside, happily honking their horns, seemingly oblivious to passing traffic, as lights twinkle in a small pergola in the front yard of a neighborhood center.

And off to the side, bordering the Montessori kindergarten, stands a green fence that commemorates a tragedy that struck the place 18 months ago.

Eleanor Bryant, a talented speech pathologist, wife and mother of two, was killed at her preschool in Riddells Creek in the Macedon Ranges in November 2024, when an out-of-control water tanker destroyed the playground.

Eleanor’s final act was to save the preschooler’s life by pushing a child out of the tanker’s path.

Today Eleanor’s family is in a park just across the road.

The little girl holding the handle of the flying fox watches with curiosity as they take photos.

Eleanor has son Charlie, 13, fresh from local football practice, daughter Tully, 11, and husband Tim Bryant, who has a firm handshake and protective eyes. “Positivity and community coming together,” he says, “that’s the main message.”

Bryant has been reluctant to talk to reporters since his wife’s death, preferring to meet only with her instead. Ageand shared his grief with funeral director Kate Morgan. podcast interview granted early access to this masthead.

He remembers the first phone call he received from Eleanor’s father after the crash on November 11. Eleanor’s father tried to call his daughter, but the police answered instead.

“He was shaking with excitement, saying, ‘They can’t talk, they can’t talk,’ and I said, ‘Okay, leave it to me,'” says Tim. “The penny hadn’t dropped yet.”

This was followed by frightening phone calls to the police, Eleanor’s father, and other family and friends.

Later, on the hour-long drive home from work, Bryant prepared to tell his children, then just 11 and nine years old.

“This is one of the hardest things you’ll ever do,” Bryant says. But he knew he had to move on within 24 hours of Eleanor’s death.

“I have a beautiful woman to honor, a couple of children, and a family to suffer again, so I’m going to do this the best I can,” Bryant says.

There is a twist of fate in Eleanor’s death. She lived in fear that she would meet the same end as her mother, Cynthia, who died on Eleanor’s 12th birthday.

“They were running late for the bus,” Tim says. “There was a car accident and unfortunately her mother passed away. This is etched in Eleanor’s memory.”

No matter how brutal, her mother’s death taught Eleanor to respect the sanctity of life and to hold on to its joy and beauty. It’s a lesson her husband takes to heart.

“This is about honoring Eleanor, how we can take away the pain that overshadowed her life and her family, and the pain that that caused, and how I try to minimize that for myself and my children and everyone around me,” Bryant says.

“This is the power of positivity and positive grief.”

The same motivation prevents him from wasting his time in anger. “Can I get angry? Yes, but what good will that do?” he says. “Eleanor will not return. She [the tanker driver] “I didn’t want to do this.”

Photos of Eleanor and Tim show them smiling broadly, easily, running together or with their children by their side. Today in the park, Tim flashes a strange smile, but next to his wife’s memorial tree and plaque, his body and face betray a different gravity.

He often looks down. He pulls his children closer.

Bryant tells the funeral director on the podcast that running became a comfort after Eleanor’s death.

“I didn’t resort to alcohol because I knew it wasn’t going to end well or anything,” he says. “I was able to get out there and run with some friends and keep my body healthy and then try to keep my mind healthy.”

Bryant’s family and friends will compete Great Ocean Road Running Festival We raise money on Sunday Eleanor Bryant Memorial FundOffering scholarships to rural and regional students seeking careers in allied health.

He said Bryant and the children still live in Riddells Creek and have no intention of moving Age.

The family is surrounded by a supportive community; More than 1,000 people flocked to Morgan’s memorial service, organized by his business Tomorrow Funerals, at Melbourne’s Palais Theater in November 2024.

Bryant speaks frequently with his wife, who he says is “incredibly” caring, brutally honest and has a wicked sense of humor.

He says he sees it in birds like kookaburras and blue wrens.

But most of all, he sees it in his children, who he says carry their mother’s courage with them.

Bryant talks about reflecting on the day Eleanor had to pack up some of her belongings.

“What Eleanor mentioned to me the day before she passed away was, ‘I’ll know if I have a good dress when my daughter gives me the thumbs up,’” she says.

“This will be something I will do with her and my daughter as I work on this as another grieving, healing task.”

At the park in Riddells Creek, it’s the day after Eleanor’s birthday – May 12 – and Mother’s Day has just passed.

In between the photos, Bryan looks at his joyful and relaxed daughter and carefully caresses her hair.

Tomorrow Funeral Podcast Life and Death, Today and Tomorrow open YouTube.