The husband of a 71-year-old woman killed in a bus crash north-west of Melbourne says he is devastated by the loss of his "best friend".
Carmel Mitchell, who has been described as a popular member of the bowls community, died when the bus she and 29 other players were travelling on crashed on the Sunraysia Highway at 3.10pm on Saturday.
Five others were critically injured when the bus rolled near Avoca.
Mrs Mitchell's husband Graeme, who broke down repeatedly when speaking of Carmel, said the two had been married for 48 years.
"We are pretty shattered at the moment," he said.
"She had a love of bowls. She organised this trip up to Mildura for the last 10 years. They have gone every year, had wonderful times and this has bloody happened and absolutely destroyed us."
Mrs Mitchell leaves behind three children and seven grandchildren, the oldest of whom is 22 years old and the youngest is seven.
Mr Mitchell said apart from the bowls, his wife's focus was the children and grandchildren.
"I met her at a dance at Ballarat Town Hall 50 years ago," Mr Mitchell said.
"She was a wonderful community person, just loved being involved in the community.
"She was a lovely, outgoing person and had a big group of good friends. She was a pretty popular person."
He said Mrs Mitchell had also been involved in the Creswick Lions Club for more than 30 years, including past terms as president. She was also a member of the Mt Xavier Bowling Club in Ballarat.
Mr Mitchell, himself a keen bowler, said he was on the greens in Ballarat playing bowls when he heard about the bus accident.
"I didn't know she was dead until I went to the police station later," he said.
Ballarat District Bowls division chair Sandra Chapman said Mrs Mitchell had been a hard-working and valued member of her bowls club for some time.
Ms Chapman said all the members were in shock and everyone felt the loss.
The organisation has cancelled its Monday pennant event as a mark of respect for those involved in the accident.
"She has been heavily involved in our division and our region as well," Ms Chapman said.
"She was very well liked and a very hard-working lady. A real true club person, very caring."
The loss of Mrs Mitchell would be felt among everyone, Ms Chapman said.
Ms Chapman said Mrs Mitchell and her husband had both been keen bowlers. She said the woman's family was very distressed.
"It all happened so suddenly," she said. "Very hard to cope with."
Victoria Police spokesman Senior Constable Adam West said the driver lost control of the bus.
The bus was returning to Ballarat from Mildura, where the passengers, from various clubs, had been competing in the Dot Jenkinson Ladies Pairs competition at clubs around Mildura.
Ms Chapman said she spoke to some of the passengers on the ill-fated bus on Sunday and they were all feeling very traumatised.
She said the players, who were a tight-knit group, were sent to different hospitals and were left wondering about each other's wellbeing.
"They are starting to feel the bruises coming," she said.
"It is a trip that they make each year, they all know each other so well, played each other in bowls for years."
Ms Chapman said the passengers were from 12 of the 24 clubs in the division.
Two women, aged in their 70s, remain in a critical condition at The Alfred hospital, a spokeswoman said.
Members of the Creswick Bowling Club are gathering on Monday to mark Mrs Mitchell's death and the injuries to other members.
Bowls Australia chief executive Neil Dalrymple posted on Facebook that the whole bowls community was wishing for the players' recovery.
Friends of the passengers also posted tributes on social media.
When asked if seat belts should be made mandatory on buses, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the government would conduct a review into the accident.
"Our thoughts and our prayers and our best wishes go out to the family of the person who has died," Mr Andrews said. "I understand there are four other people in a really critical condition in the Royal Melbourne Hospital and The Alfred hospital."
Mr Andrews thanked all the first responders for their work at the accident site.
"I can assure all Victorians that there will be a proper thorough review of what has gone on," he said.
"If there are learnings and things that need to be changed as a result of that then we stand ready to make such changes."
Anyone with dash-cam footage or information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
- With the Ballarat Courier
