12:00a.m. 4th September 2008

| By Amy Remeikis

Buderim resident Iris Williams died in a car accident at Woombye on September 2, 2008. She is pictured here in a photo dated June 12, 2005, after receiving an Order of Australia medal. Photo: Kari Robinson/144066b

Iris Williams was always the last person to leave.

That was just the sort of person she was.

She was always there to help clean up, always stayed behind to put things right.

The 72-year-old former teacher had dedicated much of the last three decades to serving her community and news of her death sent shock waves through her family, the groups she served and the people she helped.

A long-time Buderim resident and recipient of an Order of Australia medal in 2005, Mrs Williams was heavily involved with Rhema Radio, the Buderim Uniting Church and was a volunteer with the SES and president of the Buderim branch of the Red Cross as well as the former Red Cross regional president for the Sunshine Coast.

As she did for most of her life, Mrs Williams spent her final hours helping others.

Mrs Williams had just left the Sunshine Coast Rhema Radio annual general meeting when she was involved in a two vehicle crash on the Nambour Connection and McKenzie Road intersection about 10pm on Tuesday night.

Officers investigating the crash said Mrs Williams was attempting to turn right on to Nambour Connection Road and rolled slowly through a give way sign, without stopping.

As she rolled through the intersection, her Hyundai Getz was struck by a Nissan patrol ute travelling on Nambour Connection Road.

Police said the 19-year-old ute driver tried to avoid the crash by swerving, but there was nothing he could do.

Mrs Williams died instantly.

The Burnside driver of the utility was taken to Nambour General Hospital with facial and leg injuries.

He was released from hospital yesterday and was seeing a dentist to have his teeth repaired. He may receive counselling to help him deal with the crash.

Yesterday, Mrs Williams’ friends and family were coming to terms with their loss.

Rhema Radio manager Des Morris said the station staff and volunteers had been devastated by the news.

“Iris had come to the meeting to help prepare the supper and she stayed behind to clean up. She was always the last person to leave something like that,” he said.

“Iris was an organiser. She was a teacher and she still had that teacher personality. She was going to get us all in line and organise things.

“She would take on a project and say, ‘Right, this needs sorting out and I am going to do this and we need to get this done'.

“She was very community-minded ... very involved with her church. She was one of those people who would just get on with something. And she was always trying to find a better way of doing something. If there was a better way, Iris would find it.”

Mr Morris said many people were holding tight to the image of Mrs Williams from earlier in the night, before the crash.

“She was particularly bright that evening. She was particularly talkative last night (Tuesday night).

“That was Iris. She always had a story to tell you, she would always engage you in conversation no matter what you were doing.”

Red Cross Queensland Chairman Alan Clayton paid tribute to Mrs Williams and said staff and volunteers were greatly saddened by the news of her passing.

“Mrs Williams was one of our most dedicated volunteers,” he said.

“Mrs Williams was very keen on Red Cross and had been a tireless volunteer during many emergencies in the area including the Caloundra bushfires.

“She will be very much missed”.

Mrs Williams is survived by her daughter Hazel Orr, son Bruce, step-daughter Shellie and nine grandchildren.

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