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MOURNERS at yesterday’s funeral of Warrnambool teenager Aaron Bryce turned the cemetery roads into burn-out strips in a bizarre tribute less than an hour after being reminded at the memorial service of the tragic consequences of dangerous driving. Police were called after complaints from nearby residents about drivers of up to 12 cars who smoked-up their rear tyres after the 19-year-old’s body was laid to rest. Several drivers also performed burnouts outside the family’s east Warrnambool home and lapped around the cemetery precinct as a way of farewelling their mate. One nearby resident described the scene as “an absolute disgrace”, with thick tyre smoke and rubber left on the roadways. “People at the cemetery were clapping and cheering,” she said. Mr Bryce died in a residential street close to his east Warrnambool home on October 30 after hitting a power pole while riding a motorcycle. He was not wearing a helmet. A pillion passenger received a broken leg. More than 350 mourners who packed the Gateway Church of Christ yesterday were told the accident served as a stark reminder about making foolish choices. Aaron was described as a fun-loving, friendly young man who enjoyed helping others, fixing cars and riding motorbikes. Framlingham Aboriginal elder Len Clarke said he had been asked by the Bryce family to stress the dangers of inappropriate driving and being under the influence of alcohol or drugs. “This incident is a beacon sending a clear signal of the dangers of alcohol and or other drugs while in control of a vehicle,” he said. “We should remind our youth that road trauma and its resulting deaths has become a common occurrence in our neighbourhoods each weekend. “When life’s journey ends we are starkly and coldly reminded to love our loved ones a lot more.” Church pastor Sandro Schietroma also urged the congregation to make wise decisions. “We have a choice to make the world a better place,” he said. Mr Clarke later said the burnouts were an example of youthful exuberance to pay homage to a friend but highlighted the difficulty for leaders to convey the warnings of risk-taking. “We’ve got a big job to try to get this message to sink in,” he said. Former long-time Warrnambool Cemetery Trust secretary Jack Daffy said he could not recall previous funerals where mourners had done burn-outs within the cemetery precinct. Aaron’s distraught parents, Helen and Norm Bryce, contacted The Standard a few days after their son’s death in an effort to warn others of tragic consequences of risk-taking on the roads. “Don’t take life for granted and don’t drink and drive,” she said. “My son wasn’t wearing a helmet and wasn’t wearing any protective clothing.” The memorial service was also told one of Aaron’s close friends, Nathan McLeod, 21, of Derrinallum, died in a road accident at almost the same time on the same night near his home town.

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