Tragedy hits Youthworks team

A member of the Youthworks Shoalhaven team has been killed in a motor bike accident on the way to work.

21 year old Matt Schuthof died on Tuesday, 26th February after his motorbike collided with a car on Moss Vale Road, between Fitzroy Falls and Kangaroo Valley in the Southern Highlands.

He was treated by ambulance paramedics at the scene, but died a short time later.

Greg Bridge, the Executive Director of Youthworks Outdoors said "Matt and his wife Zoe married in December last year.  Matt worked with Youthworks in the Programs Team since  December 2009 and was based at Blue Gum Lodge until January 2012 when he joined the Shoalhaven team.  Zoe had also been part of the Programs Team at Shoalhaven. Both Matt and Zoe had a rich history with Youthworks as they had both graduated from the Youthworks Year 13 program, before working in the Outdoors Division."

In a message to staff, Mr Bridge said "While we can take comfort in knowing that Matt is with his Lord many are rightly grieving this very sad news both within the Youthworks community and beyond. In times of grief like this we need to turn to our great God and support each other in both prayer and action."

Mr Bridge asked staff and the Sydney anglican community to pray for Matt and Zoe’s families and Youthworks staff, especially those at Waterslea and Blue Gum who worked closely with Matt.

In a story on Friday on WIN Illawarra TV news, Matt Schuthof was described as being 'Well-known for helping change the lives of young people at Waterslea Anglican Youthworks Camp'.  

His widow, Zoe, told WIN News "If I had a chance to say something to him, I would tell him that he was a great husband for the short time and I would tell him I'm going to be ok."

Youthworks outdoors division runs camping and conference facilities around the diocese. Near Nowra, Youthworks runs two Conference Centres, Waterslea and Koloona, on the shores of the Shoalhaven River.