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A letter from BDC's principal Alan Ball detailing school's response Rachel Erlandsen
Dear Parents and Carers,
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It is with great sadness that I write to tell you of the tragic loss of two members of the BDC community.
Rachel Erlandsen (12, 2015) and her mother, Dixie, died as a result of a motor vehicle accident at Valla on Friday night, 20 November.
Rachel had just finished her HSC examinations.
Rachel's younger sister, Jess, is in Year 8. Her older brother, Andrew, finished at BDC in 2010.
There is a desperate sadness about this tragedy. Dave Halverson, Dixie's partner; Rachel's father, Peter; Jess and Andrew; Rachel's friends from Year 12; Jess' friends in Year 8; and the staff who taught and worked closely with Rachel at BDC, are devastated by this news.
We will do everything we can do to support the Erlandsen family, and Dixie's partner, Dave Halverson.
We will also take whatever measures we can to support our students and staff as they grieve, as well as any other members of our community.
The secondary school helda special assembly in the Branson Centre this morning. It was a time for students and staff to support one another.
Rev Morgan, assisted by Rev Ian Mabey and Rev Jan McLeod, our counselling team, and members of the College Leadership Team, are available to support students and staff as they process this terrible news.
The Chapel will be open all day tomorrow for students and staff to drop in as they choose to for silent reflection and prayer.
It will be a difficult time for many in the Secondary school this week. Please discuss this with your children and explain to them that we will be there to support them tomorrow, and in the immediate future.
Ours is a strong community that will come together in this time of terrible loss.
Please pray for Jess, Andrew, Dave, Peter, and their immediate family. Please also keep their friends here at school and in the wider school community in your thoughts and prayers.
Principal, Alan Ball