Community Contributed

Bus Crash at Rata on 16 July 1965

The Chronicle reported that on Monday 19 July 1965, Levin was a town of mourning.

The business area took on the appearance of a Sunday as shops closed their doors and staff joined the mass service for four of the five victims of Friday's (16 July 1965) bus tragedy near Marton.

These four were Mesdames Francesca Romans, Valmai Patricia Farrell, Marjorie Eliza Netten and Sadie Frances Day.

The fifth victim was Mrs Eunice Florence Sorenson.

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Bus crash at Rata 16 July 1965

Tragedy struck Levin on July 16, 1965 when a bus carrying members of
the Horowhenua Floral Art and Garden Club to Hunterville crashed at Rata,
killing five women and injuring many others.

It was a sad moment for the town, many of whose residents had friends
or relatives in the bus.

The caskets of four of the victims killed in last Friday's tragic bus
accident lie in the chancel of St. Mary's Anglican Church, Levin.

Sorrowing town mourns citizens 19 July 1965
Mourners and citizens of Levin gathered outside St. Mary's Anglican
Church during yesterdays joint service for four of the five women killed
in Friday's bus tragedy near Marton.

Some of the crowd of over 1000 people outside St. Mary's Anglican
Church after this mornings combined service for four of the victims
of Friday's bus tragedy.

The four hearses and a section of the crowd outside St. Mary's Anglican
Church this morning at the combined funeral service.

Paying last tributes at Levin Cemetery after funeral service for crash
victims 19 July 1965
The scene at the Levin cemetery yesterday at the burial of Levin women
who were killed in a bus accident on Friday.

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