Tribute to Jade Frith

Mr GREG PIPER ( Lake Macquarie ) ( 13:18 :11 ): On the afternoon of Tuesday 26 April a young woman was struck by a car at Warners Bay, causing serious injury. That young woman, 15-year-old Jade Frith, tragically died the following day in John Hunter Hospital. Jade lived with her family at Coal Point in Lake Macquarie and was, by all accounts, greatly loved by all her knew her. I met Jade at a function in the lead-up to the International Children's Games in 2014 in which she participated for Team Lake Macquarie in swimming. Swimming was a large part of Jade's life and something that she excelled at. It was while making her way to swimming training on that fateful Tuesday that the accident occurred.

Jade was greatly loved by the swimming fraternity, evidenced by #CapsOutForJade on social media and the outpouring of emotion from far and wide from friends she had made through the sport. Jade was of course more than a beloved swimming champion; she was a normal teenager embracing and loving life. I am told by a close friend of Jade's that she always seemed happy and was remarkably positive in her outlook: "She had the biggest heart." Jade was a good friend and great to be with. The loss of any young person is a tragedy and Jade's passing is a salient reminder of that. On behalf of the people of Lake Macquarie I extend condolences to Jade's parents, family and friends.