A family day out at Skyworks will never be the same

My parents have been to almost every Australia Day Skyworks event in Perth. I remember as a child going to the foreshore with the folks, lugging an esky and picnic rug and scouting a spot along the river for the best view of the spectacular show. It was always a wonderful family day out and somewhat of a tradition for most families in Perth.

Forget New Year, Australia Day is when Perth shines. This year, organisers were promising the most memorable show. The pyro technicians were planning to spell out "Perth" in the sky, along with smiley faces and flying dragons.

For 33 years, fireworks have lit up the night sky over the Swan River. For 33 years, the Skyworks show never had an issue. But yesterday, that glowing record was shattered with the deaths of two people. 52 year-old Peter Lynch was the pilot and his passenger was his 30 year old partner Endah Cakrawati. They were killed instantly when their sea plane crashed in the river just before 5pm yesterday, just hours before the Skyworks show.

Thousands of people had already gathered along the foreshore. They were watching the aerial displays of 40 planes, including Peter's 1948 Grumman Mallard. Many had their mobile phones out, thinking they were filming the talents of pilots as they perform aerial tricks. Instead they witnessed the horrific moment Peter Lynch's plane nosedived into the water.

Australia Day celebrations cut short with the deaths of two people, West Australians left in shocked. They would have looked at the river in disbelief asking "Did that really happen?" A fireworks boat, and other revellers raced to the wreckage to try and save the couple but nothing could be done. The atmosphere, the mood changed within seconds. As Peter and Endah's family come to terms with their tragic deaths, so to do the people of Perth.

Perth's Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi confirmed today the 2017 Skyworks display will not go ahead at all. She was asked whether this is the end of Skyworks. She didn't believe it was. But I suspect this once joyful, colourful, celebratory event known as Skyworks will never be the same again.