Nicole Weeden: Tributes flow for Albany mother and selfless sports volunteer killed in Albany Highway crash

An Albany mother of four has been remembered as an “amazing mum” and the “heart and soul” of two local sporting associations after her tragic death in a crash. Major crash detectives are investigating the head-on collision on Albany Highway that claimed the life of Nicole Weeden, 47, about 2.45pm on Saturday. Police say Ms Weeden was travelling south in a black Isuzu MU-X and a 67-year-old woman was driving north in a Toyota Prado when the vehicles collided. Ms Weeden died of her injuries at the scene. Her 15-year-old daughter, who was a passenger in the Isuzu, was taken to Albany Health Campus with a broken arm. The 67-year-old driver of the Toyota Prado was rushed to Albany Health Campus with serious injuries. Albany Highway was closed in both directions into the early hours of Sunday then closed again on Sunday afternoon as police conducted their investigation. The news of Ms Weeden’s death has sparked an outpouring of grief and tributes in Albany, where she was a beloved figure in the local sport scene. In 2019, she was named Basketball WA’s country administrator of the year for her service with the Albany Basketball Association. However she was not present at the ceremony to accept her award because she was busy with local sport commitments. Rob Whalley had the pleasure of working alongside her in his role as ABA president for the past four years. Choking back tears, he said Ms Weeden did everything for her children and did not like being the centre of attention. Her two eldest children have played basketball at a State level. “This whole thing right now, with everyone focusing on her, she would hate this,” he said. Mr Whalley said her death had sent “shockwaves” through the association and the families involved with basketball and netball. “She’s the heart and soul of the association,” he said. “She’s an amazing mum who does everything for her kids and the amount of time and effort she put in was next level. “She had four kids heavily involved in basketball and she had been travelling to Perth just about every second weekend with them for years now. “She was on top of everything, though. She was the hardest working, most organised, most beautiful person.” With the basketball season due to start in October, Mr Whalley said he was not sure how the association would get by without her. “She’s irreplaceable,” he said. Ms Weeden had a similar impact on the Albany Netball Association, where two of her daughters still play. “Her kids were her everything,” ANA president Trish Hines said. “She was an amazing role model not only to her kids, but she was an amazing role model to everybody in the association. “Words can’t express the loss that we will feel.” She managed teams in the ANA and was “always the first person to put her hand up” if the association needed help. Those words — “heart and soul” — were also some of the first to come to mind for Ms Hines. She gave her heart and soul to netball. She just poured in everything she had,” Ms Hines said. “In this day and age, where everyone is so time-poor, she just found time to give and she had so much to give. “She made time for everyone and she took on all of these responsibilities — and she was so efficient. “You could not get a better volunteer than Nicole Weeden.” Hundreds of tributes have flowed on social media for Ms Weeden, with Alana Mclean describing her as an “outstanding mother to her beautiful children”. “It’s rare to find someone who is the backbone of an association, let alone the glue, heartbeat and leading cheerleader for all, but she was all that and so much very more,” Ms Mclean said. “Such a beautiful lady with a generosity of spirit, who has left an incredible lasting legacy with her dedication to community. “Above all that, an outstanding mother to her beautiful children. We are all the better for knowing her.” Samantha Silver said Ms Weeden was a “remarkable woman” and her son’s educational assistant. “The love, kindness and patience she poured into him every day filled our hearts,” she said. “He has come so far with her guiding him and walking beside him.” Former Albany MP Peter Watson said her death represented a “great loss to our community”. “Always the first to put up her hand to get things done. Deepest sympathy to her family,” Mr Watson said. Lisa Colton described her as “Mrs netball and basketball”. “Always down at (Albany Leisure and Aquatic Centre) supporting her kids and everyone else,” Ms Colton said. “Such a massive role model to others, she will be greatly missed.” Great Southern Police Traffic officer-in-charge Sergeant Derek Grimes said police wanted to offer their condolences to the family. A GoFundMe account has been set up by a relative to support Ms Weeden’s grieving family. To donate, visit bit.ly/3BKO2nl. Anyone with information about the crash can contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a report online. Dash-cam footage or other vision of the crash can be uploaded to investigators via this link.