Deepest condolences to Nicks wife Jessica and their daughters Lizzy and Daisy.
* Story behind any Nickname: Beef Man = ?
In 2022 Nick contracted Bacterial Meningitis which brought on a couple of strokes and then a heart attack.
Nick, despite being on the cusp of death, managed to rally and came good.
With the aid of rehabilitation for months, he was able to return to work in an administrative role.
Unfortunately his brain was not functioning correctly and he had to take ‘sick leave’ again.
Although he was still on the ‘roster’, he was not able to physically return to VKG for months – leading up to his untimely, and young, death.
Nick, from all accounts, was a great guy, highly intelligent, always the gesture and far too young.
He died in his sleep and looked as though he was simply taking a nap.
Forever – Rest In Peace.
Rodney RUDE & Nick JONES
Nothing further, than what is recorded above, is known about this person at the time of publication and further information and photos would be appreciated.
NSW Police Training Centre – Redfern – Class # 093
New South Wales Police Force
Regd. # 10482
Rank: Commenced Training at Redfern Police Academy on Monday ? ? 1962 ( aged ?
Probationary Constable- appointed Monday 29 October 1962 ( aged 20 years, 3 months, 16 days )
Constable – appointed ? ? ?
Constable 1st Class – appointed 29 October 1967
Detective – appointed ? ? ? ( YES )
Senior Constable – appointed 29 October 1971
Leading Senior Constable – appointed ? ? ? ( N/A )
Sergeant 3rd Class – appointed 1 December 1978
Sergeant 2nd Class – appointed ? ? ?
Sergeant 1st Class – appointed 9 December 1986
Inspector – appointed ? ? ?
Chief Inspector – appointed ? ? ?
Final Rank: = Detective Inspector
Stations: ?, Paddington, ?, Patrol Commander – Paddington ( 10 Division )( Insp )( 1990 ), ?, Eastern Suburbs District HQ – Daceyville, ?, Region South – Retirement
Time employed ( Paid ) with NSW Police: From: ? ? 1962 to 1 January 1996 = 33 years,
Service ( From Training Date ) period: From ? ? 1962 to 1 January 1996 = 33 years Service
Retirement / Leaving age: = 53 years, 5 months,
Time in Retirement from Police: 28 years, 0 months, 28 days
Awards: National Medal – granted 6 November 1980 ( Det Sgt )
1st Clasp to National Medal – granted 17 March 1989 ( Det SenSgt )
Born: Monday 13 July 1942
Died on: Monday 29 January 2024
Age: 81 years, 6 months, 16 days
Organ Donor: No – age prohibitive
Cause: suffered from Cancer from which he also suffered fluid around the heart leading to a heart attack. He also suffered fluid on the lungs and also had Covid.
Event location: ? – surrounded by family
Event / Diagnosis date: ?
Funeral date: Wednesday 7 February 2024 @ 11am
Funeral location: Coast Chapel, 50 Pine Ave, Little Bay, NSW@
There will be NO official Police involvement at the funeral
All friends and colleagues are invited to attend
Wake location: The Junior, Anzac Pde & Haig St, Maroubra Junction, NSW
Please join Jim’s family to celebrate his life at the Coast Chapel, a place that holds special significance as it overlooks Little Bay and the ocean that Jim called home for over 50 years.
Time & Location
07 Feb, 11:00 am
The Coast Chapel. 50 Pine Avenue, Little Bay NSW
About the Service
Jim’s family invite you to join them at the Coast Chapel to farewell their husband, father and poppy.
Please join Robyn, Yvette, Brett, Daniel and their families to celebrate Jim’s life at The Juniors, Maroubra, Anzac Parade and Haig Street, Maroubra Junction from 12.30pm.
Please note that you do not need to RSVP if you’re watching the livestream.
Nothing further, than what is recorded above, is known about this person at the time of publication and further information and photos would be appreciated.
Ike ELLIS: 2023 wrote: Keith was my Sergeant at Kurri Kurri and we used to trick unsuspecting people to shake hands with him. Without a doubt he had the strongest handshake I experienced.
He and his wife, Terry a lovely but sad couple, having lost their only daughter ( Frances ) when she fell down a cliff near their home.
RIP Sir
Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales (Sydney, NSW : 1901 – 2001),
Friday 20 August 1982 (No.110), page 3880
IN the Supreme Court of New South Wales.— Notice of intended distribution of estate.— Any person having any claim upon, the estate of KEITH ALLAN RILEY, late of Narara, police inspector, who died on 4th June, 1982, must send particulars to the Public Trustee at the address appearing below within two (2) calendar months from the date of publication hereof.
After that time the Public Trustee may distribute the assets of the estate, having regard only to the claims of which at the time of distribution he has notice. Election to administer the estate with the will dated 20th January, 1970, annexed, was filed by the Public Trustee on 11th August, 1982.
E. C. OSBORNE, Branch Manager, Public Trust Office, 1 Watt Street, Gosford. (4974)
Nothing further, than what is recorded above, is known about this person at the time of publication and further information and photos would be appreciated.
Condolences to their son, Scott and Daughter, Jane and their respective children.
* Story behind any Nickname:
Nothing further, than what is recorded above, is known about this person at the time of publication and further information and photos would be appreciated.
I have just heard of the passing of a former colleague from Class 158 Geoff Bernasconi. He was a wonderfully generous and giving man and a real entertainer. Your shift is complete Geoff – but your legacy, and the considerable memories you created will live on with many, especially during the times at Wagga Wagga. Special thoughts to Geoff’s family and the friends he leaves behind. Rest easy my friend.
* * *
Geoff featured in the book: ‘Forensic Investigator – true stories from the life of a country crime scene cop’, written by Esther McKay.
Class 158A – Redfern Police Academy – April 1978
Katie BERNASCONI & Geoff BERNASCONI
Katie BERNASCONI & Geoff BERNASCONI
Geoffrey Paul BERNASCONI # 17970
Georgina CLEMENTS & Geoffrey Paul BERNASCONI # 17970 at their wedding. 10 June 2020
Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 – 1995),
Tuesday 28 February 1995, page 4
Boys face murder charges
WAGGA WAGGA: Blood had soaked 5cm into the ground around the head of a man found dead by a council worker in Wagga Wagga, the city’s Children’s Court was told yesterday.
Four Wagga boys, aged 11, 12, 15 and 16, have been charged with the murder of Peter William Baker, 55, whose body was found in Victory Memorial Gardens at 8am on November 6 last year.
They were charged also with robbery in company after it was alleged that money had been taken from the dead man.
On the first day of committal proceedings yesterday, Detective Sergeant Geoff Bernasconi said Baker would not have staggered to the spot where his body was found.
He would have fallen to the ground after being struck on the back of the head and stayed there.
A significant feature was that blood had been found only on and under Baker’s head, there had been no blood on the back of his clothes and only minute traces surrounding him.
Peter James Kelly identified three of the four youths as those he had given a lift at about 11.30pm on November 5.
SYDNEY: A pilot spoke to his wife about his plane experiencing electrical difficulties only minutes before the plane plunged into a paddock near Wagga in south-eastern NSW, killing all four people on board.
Police said the 64-year-old Narrandera pilot told his wife in a mobile-phone conversation that he had lost the artificial horizon on the twin-engine Cessna 310’s navigation system.
He said he was flying in low cloud cover during a descent from 9000 feet on his approach to Wagga.
According to the Bureau of Air Safety Investigation, the pilot, from an air taxi service in Narrandera, then made his last known radio contact with Wagga airport at 7.43pm on Friday.
He failed to contact the airport six minutes later as scheduled.
A bureau spokesman said his last contact was routine and made no mention of difficulties.
Police identified the pilot as Don Knight, 64, of Knight Air Taxi, Narrandera. The Wagga men were Dallas Gooden, 42, Bruce Campbell, 54, and David Larwood, 33. They had been on a trip to Longreach in far-north Queensland buying stock.
Wreckage was strewn over more than a kilometre in the open paddock where the plane crashed.
Police said a woman from a property near the crash site, about 15km north-east of Coolamon, reported seeing a large flash in thesky and heard the plane crash about 8.10pm on Friday.
But the officer-in-charge at the crash site, Inspector Chris Morley, said it was too soon to talk about the plane exploding in mid-air.
He said the flash in the sky may have been the plane crash reflected on low cloud.
“It’s a big mess, I have never seen anything like it,” Inspector Morley said.
“It’s just devastating.”
The wreckage was found on the Thalia property by the property owner at midday yesterday after the alarm was raised.
This morning, NSW police video unit and photogrammetry officers recorded the crash site.
Two BASI investigators were travelling from Sydney to pick over the wreckage for clues about how the crash happened.
Inspector Morley said the men’s bodies would be collected and eventually taken to the city morgue in Glebe, Sydney, for disaster victim identification procedures, to be carried out by Riverina forensic services head Detective Sergeant Geoff Bernasconi.
Detective Sergeant Bernasconi was in charge of similar investigations after the Monarch air crash that killed seven people as it approached Young in central NSW on June 11, 1993.
NSW Fire Brigade, bushfire brigade and State Emergency Services workers were involved in the search on Friday night.
Forensic investigator Geoff Bernasconi had always been passionate about his job as a policeman in rural New South Wales, and went the extra mile, both for victims of crime and for their families. But one night in 1984, he was called to investigate the scene of a horrific car accident in which an entire family had been wiped out – and which it was impossible for him to forget.
Geoff‘s day-to-day working life became a catalogue of tragedies, some of which involved people close to him, and he found himself spiralling downwards in the grip of post-traumatic stress disorder.
When Esther McKay heard that Geoff had been awarded maximum compensation for his suffering, she knew immediately this was a story that needed to be told.
This is a harrowing account of what it is like to work on the frontlines of crime and tragedy as a forensic investigator. It is also the inspiring story of one who has been exposed to sights and experiences many of us can hardly even imagine, yet has emerged from the darkness to begin his journey to recovery.
Relationship issues from the autobiographies Allan Sparkes(Sparkes, 2013:136)describes his relationship with his wife Deborah as beingstrong and supportive, although he says “I kept my mental state from her.” Her support, Allanbelieves was central to his later recovery.
John Horner(Horner, 2011)experienced a marriagebreakdown in mid–career, as did Esther McKay.
She described her subsequent partner as“extremely sensitive and comforting” in terms of her battle with the trauma that was then achallenging part of her everyday experience.
Belinda Neil had a similar experience, as didGeoff Bernasconi(McKay, 2010:74)
where he describes his marriage as “weakening underthe strain”.
After being absent from home forfourdaysinvolved with the forensicinvestigation of a plane crash scene, (during which time he made no contact with his pregnantwife) on arriving back to his home town he went straight to the hotel, got drunk and called his wife, suggesting she join him for dinner. The relationship did not survive.
Sleep Problems and Exhaustion: The autobiographies. Alan Sparkes(Sparkes, 2013:140) describeshis confronting dreams and his inability to sleep.
As his Post traumatic stresssymptomsincreased he commenced having nightmaresin whichhe had stabbed to death his wife and daughter.These were the source of profound anxietyand fear for him, prompting thoughts of suicide to protect his loved ones from the possibilitythat his dreams might become reality.
EstherMcKay(McKay, 2005:265/227)gives a similaraccount of nightmares describinga particularly disturbing one where she was ‘lying naked onthe morgue table’.
Belinda Neil(Neil, 2014:2)describes “the long working hours with no time to recover from one traumatic incident to the next.”And continues,“I was falling apart,exhausted and forgetful”.
Geoff Bernasconi,(McKay, 2010:58/59)is “mentally and physically exhausted” and “fatigue was ever–present, especially on long road trips when Geoff would struggle to stay alert.”
These wereofficers nearing the limit of their resilience, unsupported by their organisation, isolated and nearing the end of their police careers.
Thesis Final PDF.pdf Trigger Warning re this link; This document looks into Police, the culture, Stress and Suicide / Suicidal thought by Police.
DAILY TELEGRAPH P15 THURSDAY 23 DECEMBER 2004 FORMER POLICEMAN GEOFF BERNASCONI FROM WAGGA WAGGA WHO SUED THE POLICE DEPT.
My dog Mac reading the book
Forensic officer awarded $750,000
While a judge in Sydney was telling the court that a former policeman should receive the maximum compensation – $750,000 – the man in question was visiting the grave of a victim of a crime he had investigated.
“I have been to a few cemeteries,” said Geoffrey Bernasconi, 48, speaking from his home in Wagga Wagga. “It’s just a solace, a place for me to think and reflect.
“I think about those that are left behind, and I feel for the person … I found it quite peaceful there today. I reflect could I have done more, and I reassure myself, no, I have done everything I can.”
On Wednesday in the District Court, Judge Raymond McLoughlin awarded the former forensic services police officer $785,000 (including interest) for his suffering, and lost career due to work-related post-traumatic stress disorder and depression.
During his 23-year career, in which more than half the cases involved homicides and dead bodies, Mr Bernasconi was only debriefed three times. Those occasions were “poorly organised and often occurred after the event”, the court heard.
A medical report said he had been “repeatedly exposed to some of the most tragic circumstances that may be witnessed in civilised societies”.
Based in Wagga Wagga since 1987, he investigated crime and accident scenes, retrieved body parts from cars, trains and light plane crashes. There were teenage suicides, infant drownings and homicides. Sometimes he was required to remove decomposed bodies because the government contractor “couldn’t stomach it”.
One of Mr Bernasconi‘s strengths was his empathy with the families of victims, who relied heavily on him. But this was also a stress.
The court also heard that for 15 months in the late 1980s he was the only crime scene investigator for the whole region, and was on call around the clock.
Judge McLoughlin criticised the service for failing to properly manage his 70-80 hour week, and failure to order appropriate leave and job rotation.
In 1999, he broke down while giving evidence at a coronial inquiry into a plane crash. The coroner recorded: “I have dealt with this man for 15 years and I have never seen him like this.”
Soon after, his police supervisor took his gun and handcuffs away. He was medically discharged in 2000-2001. He spent months in psychiatric care in hospital.
Judge McLoughlin said there were managerial and psychological interventions which should have been taken by the service. He found Mr Bernasconi was now unfit to work in the labour market.
THE NSW Police Force has wasted millions of dollars fighting “no-brainer” claims by stressed officers, prompting the State Government to order an external review of the force’s legal services unit.
The Herald is aware of at least six cases in which former police officers offered to settle for less than $150,000 but ended up with $750,000 payouts after going to court. Seventy claims are before the courts.
The Police Minister, Carl Scully, said he had “concerns about the performance of the unit, particularly in relation to its management of settlements and litigation”. He mentioned matters “not being handed expeditiously or fairly” and a “reluctance to settle that then causes payouts being larger than what they otherwise may have been”. Payouts include:
■ Child protection officer Rodney Keen: offered to settle for $148,000 plus legal fees of $30,000. Awarded $750,000 plus costs.
■ Forensic services officer Geoff Bernasconi: offer of $150,000 to avoid stress of court before $750,000 judgement.
■ Armed hold-up squad officers Edward Shepherd, Mark Wilson and Craig McDonald: offer of $790,000 for all three. Awarded $2.04 million plus costs.
■ Undercover officer Bob Ridley: offer of $100,000 before $750,000 judgement.
Mr Scully said a solicitor who has worked in the public and private sectors, Helen Vickers, would deliver her report in a few weeks.
He conceded that if the claims were proven, “then obviously I would have to consider ways of improving or potentially changing the way legal services is conducted”.
One police insider said the unit had an “army mentality”. “They want to fight everything and settle nothing and then rage against the courts when things go wrong. It’s scandalous the amount of taxpayer money they are wasting.”
Mr Scully said the current system, under which up to six people must be consulted before making an offer, could be a case of “too many cooks spoiling the broth”. The minister must approve all settlements over $100,000. “No doubt we could potentially streamline that and make it more efficient and effective.”
Mr Ridley‘s solicitor, Philip Sim, settled a case involving another undercover officer – dubbed Miss X – on the fourth day of a District Court hearing last week. “They slow the process down, so they can wear people out,” he said.
He said one attempt at mediation collapsed when police lawyers could not get instructions.
Tom Edmunds, a solicitor and former policeman who represented the hold-up squad officers, was blunt: “$1.4 million – that’s how much the Crown contributed to our legal costs.”
Kim Smith, who acted for Mr Keen and Mr Bernasconi, said the legal costs of running a matter against NSW Police were “so much greater” than her other personal injury matters.
The Crown, which will pay a large amount of Mr Keen‘s estimated $350,000 legal costs, has foreshadowed an appeal.
Ms Smith said the Crown Solicitor’s Office had pointed out many times that NSW Police was exempt from the model litigants’ policy. This demands government departments avoid litigation wherever possible, but only the Attorney-General’s department is bound by the policy.
The secretary of the NSW Police Association, Peter Remfrey, said the way NSW police managed stress had improved but the legal unit’s handling of claims was “dysfunctional”. The association’s research director, Greg Chilvers, said 70 former police – many undercover officers – had negligence claims before the courts.
A precedent was set in a 2000 Court of Appeal judgement which awarded a former child abuse officer, Beth Seedsman, $750,000 for NSW Police’s failure to provide a safe system of work or protection from mental injury. “Given what we know about the law, in these cases it should either be a no-brainer or one to be fought on a matter of principle,” Mr Chilvers said. “It seems on a matter of principle they fight them all.”
* Story behind any Nickname: The man liked a drink.
Nothing further, than what is recorded above, is known about this person at the time of publication and further information and photos would be appreciated.
Jim’s (James’) family warmly invite you to attend the celebration of his life, to be held in the Gledswood Room, Gledswood Homestead & Winery, 900 Camden Valley Way, on Monday 10th July at 11am.
A private cremation will follow.
Dad returned back from orange yesterday complaining of back pain to go to sleep and wake up again with back pain for mum to drive him to Camden hospital for him to change for the worst and found to have died 10 mins later of a blood clot burst to his Aorta . No heart condition nothing ever known he was pretty healthy
Nothing further, than what is recorded above, is known about this person at the time of publication and further information and photos would be appreciated.
Late of Glen Legh Road Glen Innes and formerly of Campbelltown, NSW.
Loving husband of Kate, cherished father of Maddyson, Jessica and Mitchell, a much loved son, son-in-law, brother, brother-in-law and uncle.
Relatives and friends are respectfully informed that a funeral service will be held for Dale at the Cameron Memorial Uniting Church, Glen Innes, commencing at 12:00 noon, Thursday 20th July, followed by private cremation at the Sapphire City Crematorium, Inverell.
HORDER FAMILY FUNERALS F.D.A.
GLEN INNES
Phone: (02) 67325911
FDA of NSW
Accreditation No: 12029-01
The relatives and friends of the late Dale Scott Keegan, also known as Kegs, aged 48 years, late of Glen Legh Road, Glen Innes and formerly of Campbelltown, NSW, are respectfully informed that Dale’s funeral service will take place this Thursday 20th July, at the Cameron Memorial Uniting Church, Glen Innes, commencing at 12:00 noon, followed by private cremation at the Sapphire City Crematorium, Inverell.
Loving husband of Kate, cherished father of Maddyson, Jessica and Mitchell, loved son of Brian & Carol Keegan, brother of Vanessa Williams, brother-in-law of Bryan Williams, uncle of Zachary and Olivia, beloved son-in-law of Nancy & Frank Lipscombe (deceased).
If you would like to offer your condolences to Dale’s family we will have a stand outside our office from 9am – 5pm where you may deliver a message/card of condolence. You may also email a message to the family to phorder@horderfamilyfunerals.com.au and we will pass this on ( please use Dale’s name on all correspondence to ensure it goes to the correct family ).
Horder Family Funerals
Serving Glen Innes, Emmaville, Deepwater, Tingha and Districts
Dale Keegan Obituary, Death – The sudden and unexpected loss of one of their own, Dale Keegan, has cast a pall of melancholy over the members of the Glen Innes Magpies, who have entered a period of mourning as a result.
From 2009 to 2016, Dale was a devoted member of the Glen Innes Rugby League, during which time he also served as an assistant coach for the club’s side. During this period, he was also a member of the coaching staff. The years 2009 through 2016 were Dale’s active years with the club.
In addition to this, he served in some capacity on the coaching staff during the entirety of this time period. 2010 and 2012 were good years for Dale in terms of his performance in competitions; nevertheless, he did not bring home any trophies or have any victories in 2011.
In 2011, he did not take part in any of the tournaments that were held. The members of the Glen Innes Magpies Community would like to express their most sincere sympathies to Kate, Maddy, Jess, Mitch, and the rest of the Keegan family on the passing of a member of the Keegan family.
This is in response to the news that a member of the Keegan family passed away. The Keegan family had a great deal of love and admiration for Mitch Keegan throughout its history.
On Sunday, in order to show that we value Keegs and his memory, we will observe a moment of silence in his honor by remaining silent for the entirety of one minute. This will be done in his honor as a way to show that we appreciate him and his memory. This is going to be done so that we can pay our respects to him by keeping a moment of quiet.
Nothing further, than what is recorded above, is known about this person at the time of publication and further information and photos would be appreciated.
NSW Police Training Centre – Redfern – Class # 128
New South Wales Police Force
Regd. # 14944
Rank: Commenced Training at Redfern Police Academy as a Trainee on Monday 9 August 1971 ( aged 19 years, 0 months, 22 days )
Probationary Constable – appointed Friday 17 September 1971 ( although the ‘Stud Books’ show this to be Monday 20 September 1971 ) – aged 19 years, 1 month, 30 days )
Constable – appointed 20 September 1972
Constable 1st Class – appointed 20 September 1976
Detective – appointed ? ? ? ( NO )
Senior Constable – appointed 20 September 1990
Leading Senior Constable – appointed ? ? ?
Sergeant 3rd Class – appointed 5 April 1988
Sergeant 2nd Class – appointed ? ? ?
Sergeant 1st Class – appointed ? ? ?
Inspector – appointed ? ? ?
Final Rank: = ?
Stations: Philip St GDs ( ProCst )( 4 Division )( 20/9/71 – 4/7/72 ),
Philip St Traffic ( 5/6/72 – 22/7/73 ),
Philip St GDs ( 23/7/73 – 6/10/73 ),
Traffic Branch ( Metro )( 7/10/73 – 29/1/76 ),
Ryde ( 17 Division )( 1/2/76 – 8/5/76 ),
North Sydney – Traffic Branch ( Car Crew )( 9/5/76 – 21/8/76 ),
Five Dock ( 9 Division )( HWP Cyclist )( 22/8/76 – 28/10/78 ),
State Technical Services ( Radio Communications )( 29/10/78 – 5/11/83 ),
( Due to current Govt. restrictions on ‘Gatherings’ due to Corona19 Virus Pandemic, some families may wish to have a Memorial Service / Wake with friends and family at a later date )
Funeral Parlour: Pettigrew Family Funerals, Mayfield, NSW. 02 4951 1166
Buried at: ?
Grave Location: Plot: ? Section: ?
Grave GPS: ?, ?
Memorial / Plaque / Monument located at: ?
Dedication date of Memorial / Plaque / Monument: Nil – at this time ( March 2023 )
MICHAEL is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance * NOT JOB RELATED
FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.
This SMV was rammed through the tall wire gates of the Sydney Airport whilst being pursued by C District HWP and C District Anti Theft Squad.. The action caused total shut down of all runways until the SMV was cornered here at part of the airport. The driver was charged with commonwealth offences (by the Anti Theft) for ‘Endanger Safety of Aircraft’. Sgt 3/c Michael GROVER ( C District HWP ) standing at the passengers door ( with his back turned from camera ). SenCon Graham Maranda ( C District Anti Theft Squad ) standing at drivers door. 1 January 1990
Class photo at Redfern Academy 1971 – 72
Police Training
Early Police bikes
Collarenebri Police Stn Circa 1999: Constable ?, Commissioner Peter Ryan, Sgt 1/c Michael Grover, Cst ?, SenCon ?
Flemington Police Stn c1998
Nothing further, than what is recorded above, is known about this person at the time of publication and further information and photos would be appreciated.
any Future Wake date: Wednesday 23 November 2022 @ noon
( Due to current Govt. restrictions on ‘Gatherings’ due to Corona19 Virus Pandemic, some families may wish to have a Memorial Service / Wake with friends and family at a later date )
Funeral Parlour: White Lady Funerals 1300 656550
Buried at: ?
Memorial / Plaque / Monument located at: ?
Dedication date of Memorial / Plaque / Monument: Nil – at this time ( November 2022 )
JULIE is NOT mentioned on the Police Wall of Remembrance * NOT JOB RELATED
JULIE IS NOT mentioned on the Sydney Police Centre Memorial Wall, Surry Hills ( But should later be )
FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED ABOUT THIS PERSON, THEIR LIFE, THEIR CAREER AND THEIR DEATH.
Our thoughts go out to the children of Julie – Grant, Elise and Nicholas together with her family – Sister Narelle and brother Darren
Daughter of Katherine and Alec DICK ( both deceased )
Did the Rural Fire Service cover up a fatal fire?
THE Rural Fire Service is being investigated by a coroner over claims it covered up suspicions that a fatal bushfire was started by one of its own volunteers.
By Janet Fife-Yeomans
September 9, 2008 – 12:00AM
DailyTelegraph
THE Rural Fire Service is being investigated by a coroner over claims it covered up suspicions that a fatal bushfire was started by one of its own volunteers.
Motorist Ronald Gillett died and 13 homes at Abernethy in the Hunter Valley were destroyed in one of the state’s worst bushfires which a previous inquest found was deliberately lit.
Yesterday as he reopened the inquest on the basis of fresh evidence, deputy state coroner Carl Milovanovich said he would be investigating whether there had been a “conspiracy of silence”.
He said the primary focus of the new inquest was whether there had been a “cover up” over the cause of the blaze in October 2002.
One of the fresh witnesses to be called is Brendan Hokin, a member of the local Cessnock Bushfire Brigade who had been charged two days before the fire with deliberately lighting a fire that threatened Pokolbin.
He then went to fight the fire.
Hokin, then 24, pleaded guilty to arson and was jailed for 12 months with a non-parole period of four months.
He has denied any involvement in the Abernerthy blaze, which was the result of two separate fires.
But Mr Milovanovich was not told about Hokin when he held the first inquest in 2004.
After that inquest, RFS investigator Ken Hepplewhite told ICAC that he had told someone he “thought there may have been a cover-up (about the fatal fire) but that he was not part of it.”
Bushfire volunteers who were on the two Cessnock fire trucks on a training exercise when the fire started have also been interviewed by police – some for the first time – and will also be called to give evidence.
Police had taken statements from 34 new witnesses, Sergeant Julie Tillott, assisting the coroner, told Westmead Coroners’ Court.
She said the inquest had been reopened following allegations made by a local resident, Garry Price, who almost lost his home in the fire, and a reinvestigation by police.
Businessman Mr Gillett, 55, was trapped in his car and killed when the flames swept across the road through Aberdare State Forest after he was turned back at a roadblock.
Outside court yesterday, his son Barclay Gillett said he he hoped the new inquest would “get to the bottom of what happened”.
Mr Price flagged that he would be asking for Mr Hepplewhite to be called as a witness.
The inquest was adjourned to October 13 in Newcastle.
Nothing further, than what is recorded above, is known about this person at the time of publication and further information and photos would be appreciated.
Wake location: Diamond Room, Maitland City Bowling Club
Wake date: Tuesday 18 October 2022
( Due to current Govt. restrictions on ‘Gatherings’ due to Corona19 Virus Pandemic, some families may wish to have a Memorial Service / Wake with friends and family at a later date )
Nothing further, than what is recorded above, is known about this person at the time of publication and further information and photos would be appreciated.
