By SA Canegrowers / 1 September 2024
SA Canegrowers’ staff and the country’s sugarcane growers are shocked and deeply saddened at the death of three members of the Finnemore family in a car accident on Saturday afternoon (August 31).
Olivia Finnemore, who was the Finance Executive at SA Canegrowers, together with her husband, Gareth, and their son, Garth, died in a head-on collision on the R622 between Greytown and Mooi River in KwaZulu-Natal.
The family were returning from a 7s rugby event at Wembley College in Greytown. Garth was a Grade 8 student at Michaelhouse.
Harry, the youngest in the family and a Grade 6 pupil at DPHS in Durban, was the only survivor in the accident which reportedly killed 11 people. He is in a critical but stable condition in the Hilton Hospital.
SA Canegrowers sends its love, thoughts and prayers to the extended family and heartfelt wishes for Harry’s speedy recovery.
16 thoughts on “SA Canegrowers mourns the tragic death of its Finance Executive Olivia Finnemore”
Roy Sharma
1 September 2024 at 4:01 pm
I had the privilege of working with Olivia at Canegrowers. A personification of ethics and integrity. As a human being a lovely person. Gone to soon.
I pray that God be with Harry.Reply
SA Canegrowers
3 September 2024 at 10:21 am
Thank you Roy for your message of support and condolence. Olivia was indeed a lovely person who ascribed to very high standards. Harry we understand is gaining strength. Thank you again Roy and Kind regards to you too.
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Meghan King
1 September 2024 at 5:49 pm
Blessed to have known her. Devastated by this news. All my love to her friends and family.
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SA Canegrowers
3 September 2024 at 10:20 am
Dear Meghan – thank you so much for your kind message and wishes of love and support, it is much appreciated.
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Ezelle Berry
1 September 2024 at 5:57 pm
Condolences to family, friends and colleagues. Olivia was a wonderful kind person and will be missed by the cane growing community. Our hearts and prayers go out to Harry. May God be with you.
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SA Canegrowers
3 September 2024 at 10:19 am
Dear Ezelle, thank you so much for your kind words about Olivia and for your prayers for Harry. They are truly appreciated.
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Anthea Coxe
2 September 2024 at 4:00 pm
A lot of us Cane Growers in Mazabuka, Zambia had the privilege of knowing Olivia’s husband Gareth, also sadly taken in the crash. He was an extremely charismatic person and spoke with so much pride for his family when he came up to Zambia. Such a devastating accident. Condolences to their surviving son, their family, friends and community in SA. What a huge loss.
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SA Canegrowers
3 September 2024 at 10:19 am
Dear Anthea – thank you so very much for your kind message – and all the way from Zambia. Messages such as yours are giving everyone the strength to keep moving forward and are much appreciated.
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Gerrard, Roger, Shar
2 September 2024 at 8:01 pm
Condolences from the Stott families.
Ellery, Mervyn, Cyril.Reply
SA Canegrowers
3 September 2024 at 10:17 am
Dear Gerrard, Roger and Shar, thank you very much for your kind message of condolence.
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Hayley Callanan
3 September 2024 at 5:59 am
Such a devastating loss for the Finnemore families, SACG staff and the cane growing community as a whole.
Olivia was kind and extremely efficient. I am grateful for having had the privilege of working with her for the past 9 years.
Condolences to her extended family, her friends, the Board, senior executives and staff of SA Cane Growers and anyone else who was privileged enough to have known her.
She will be missed by so many, myself included and I pray for strength in the coming months for all who are mourning this tragic loss.
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SA Canegrowers
3 September 2024 at 10:16 am
Dear Hayley, Thank you so much for your kind message of condolence. Olivia was indeed kind and extremely efficient. This is a sad time for all in the sugarcane growing sector and beyond.
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Ntuthuko
3 September 2024 at 9:51 am
It’s so sad, condolences to the relatives and colleagues,🥹
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SA Canegrowers
3 September 2024 at 10:15 am
Thank you so much Ntuthuko for your kind message of condolences – this is indeed a sad time for all in the sugarcane growing sector and beyond.
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Jayne Ferguson
3 September 2024 at 2:19 pm
Terribly shocking and sad news. For those of us who had the privilege of working with Olivia after she left the UK, saw her through her two pregnancies and watched her develop into the wonderfully kind, caring and effective Executive that she became, it’s a tragic loss. Condolences to all.
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SA Canegrowers
3 September 2024 at 2:41 pm
Thank you Jayne for your kind and thoughtful email. As you can well imagine the SA Canegrowers’ staff and broader community are in a state of shock and extreme sadness. We ask that you keep little Harry in your thoughts. I hope that you are well.
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