Nineteen-year-old Lilli Berguno (left) was the “spitting image” of her mother, 38-year-old Nora Berguno (right). Photos: Supplied.
CONTENT WARNING: This article contains distressing content.
An unimaginable tragedy tore apart a Canberra family this week when a mother and her daughter were killed in a triple-fatal crash that left the other young member of their family critically injured.
Nora Berguno, 38, and her 19-year-old daughter Lilli Berguno died in the horrific head-on car crash on the Kings Highway, near Clyde Mountain, on Monday (9 March).
Lilli’s 20-year-old boyfriend also died in the crash, while her 15-year-old sister was seriously injured and was still in a critical condition in hospital three days later.
(Region has not named Nora’s daughter due to her age and has not named Lilli’s boyfriend as we have not spoken to his family.)
Nora had been driving them from Canberra to Batemans Bay that afternoon when, police said, another car crossed onto their side of the road and hit their car head-on at 100 km/h.
The 39-year-old male driver of this second car and his two young passengers sustained non-life-threatening injuries in the crash and were airlifted to hospital.
The tragedy has seen an enormous outpouring of grief from the Canberra community for the Belconnen family, including from Nora’s friend and colleague, Emilia Browne.
“Everyone is in shock … It’s spread like wildfire and the messages that are coming through are a testament to the well-respected woman that she was,” Ms Browne told Region over the phone, audibly emotional.
“I hope wherever she might be, she can see the impact she had on everyone around her.
“I never met someone so gentle. I don’t think she knew how special she was.”
Lilli (left) and Nora Berguno died in the car crash on 6 March 2026. Photo: Supplied.
Ms Browne said Nora was “a mum doing her best” and described her as “the most generous person” whose priority was her two daughters.
“She’d been through a lot in her life and was just always so positive,” she said.
It was common for her to make a “snap decision” and drive down to the South Coast or head out to the Cotter region in Canberra’s west.
“Being near a body of water was her favourite place to read,” Ms Browne said.
She said Lilli was the “spitting image” of Nora. She had a kind heart, her life ahead of her and wanted to become a mother herself one day.
“She was always with her mum as well,” Ms Browne said.
“They [her daughters] just loved her.”
Ms Browne said Lilli and her boyfriend had dated for a few years and “absolutely loved each other to bits”.
“They were both trying to figure things out in terms of jobs and whatnot, to try and start a future together,” she said.
She knew the family after she and Nora became friends about six years ago while they were both working at the Australian National University.
She left the university to focus on her family business, the civil works company CB Civil, which Nora joined on the administrative side earlier this year.
“She very much became part of my family, so there’s a very empty space at my home,” Ms Browne said.
“She was a mum and a friend, and all of these things before she became a colleague.
“It’s just unimaginable that this has happened to her.”
Australian National University colleagues (from left) Beth Harris, Judy Luyt, Emilia Browne and Nora Berguno. Photo: Supplied.
Ms Browne helped set up an online fundraiser for Nora’s 15-year-old daughter and the Berguno family. More than $33,000 had been donated by Friday (13 March).
She said the 15-year-old had a long road ahead for her as she was still in hospital.
“We started this fundraiser as I knew how hard Nora worked for her girls,” she said.
“I wanted people to know who Nora was and who her beautiful girls were, and turn some of this sadness into something positive.”
To contribute to the fundraiser, visit GoFundMe.
If this story has affected you or someone you love, you can contact Lifeline’s 24-hour crisis support line on 13 11 14, Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800, or MensLine Australia 1300 789 978.
Original Article published by Albert McKnight on Region Canberra.
