MOUNT COMPASS - Community spirit, human kindness, resilience and compassion sit side by side with grief, shock and dismay as Mount Compass slowly begins to rebuild after the deaths of three young men in a car accident on Australia Day.
Tributes have flooded in and more than 2,500 people have joined the special group on social-networking website, Facebook, honouring the boys Matt Solly,18, Jake McMillan, 18, and Brock Grivell, 17.
While the families of the boys have requested privacy at this time, Regina Solly, mother of Matt, was willing to sit down with The Times and reflect on her son's life, thanking the community for their amazing support.
Reg spoke of Matt's passion for football and the pride he had in playing for a club he loved, and his love for his friends and fellow members of the 'CCF' club (Compass Cow Farmers) of which he was the president and Jake was the vice president.
``He was so quick witted, so cheeky," Reg said of Matt, or "Boo" as she called him, or "Mushy" as his older twin sisters, Tamara and Kimberly, called him.
"He would have a smart-ass remark for everything, he could always make you smile no matter what."
Both Reg and Matt's father, Wayne, said their family feels no anger towards the young driver, who was injured in the crash but survived, and cannot be named for legal reasons.
"I am angry that it (the accident) happened but I am not angry at him," Reg said.
"They (Matt, Jake and Brock) were always together and it could have been any of them driving.
"We are all just hurting."
Reg said the support from the community has been outstanding, including the Mount Compass Football Club where the funeral is being held and the IGA supermarket where she works.
"I can't believe how much the community has pulled together for us, it's amazing," she said.
She said fundraisers had already begun, with more events in the pipeline.
"The town is definitely going to be different," Tamara said.
Mayor of Alexandrina, Kym McHugh, said the accident, which occurred on Woodcone Road shortly before 9pm on January 26, was a stark reminder "of the fragility of our existence and the perils of road travel".
He said the accident has torn to the very core of the close-knit Mount Compass and extended Fleurieu Peninsula communities.
"Our deepest sympathies and heart-felt thoughts and prayers go to the families and the multitude of friends of these very popular lads. Their loss will be felt heavily throughout the local community," Mayor McHugh said.
"We also appreciate and thank the Emergency Services volunteers who attended this accident and who go above and beyond the call of duty on an ongoing basis to assist victims of accidents at all hours of the day and night. The emotional impact on these volunteers can be enormous and they have our continued unconditional support.
"We hope that the tragic loss of these three lives is not in vain, and that this horrific accident serves as a vivid reminder that we all need to take care on our roads," he said.
South Australia's road toll now stands at 21, compared with 11 at the same time last year.
A funeral for all three boys will be held at 1pm this Friday, February 5 at the Mount Compass Oval.
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