{"id":267918,"date":"2020-07-27T23:45:44","date_gmt":"2020-07-27T13:45:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=267918"},"modified":"2020-07-28T00:19:00","modified_gmt":"2020-07-27T14:19:00","slug":"service-remembers-1990-air-crash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2020\/07\/27\/service-remembers-1990-air-crash\/","title":{"rendered":"Service Remembers 1990 Air Crash"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Laura and Luke Delv, from Newrybar, and Isobel Ferrier, from Sydney, chatted with Pastor Cam Rub after the commemoration … Luke and Isobel are both related to crash victims<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

July 27, 2020<\/strong><\/p>\n

Almost 50 people gathered near Wondai Airport on Sunday to mark the 30th anniversary of the South Burnett’s worst civilian aviation disaster.<\/p>\n

On July 26, 1990, a Beech King Air turboprop aircraft crashed shortly after taking off from Wondai Airport, killing the pilot and four of the passengers, and badly injuring a fifth who was thrown clear of the plane on impact.<\/p>\n

The accident rocked the close-knit Wondai community, and community members erected a memorial to the victims at the crash site not long afterwards.<\/p>\n

On Sunday, relatives of the crash victims joined with surviving first responders who attended the accident three decades ago to reflect on the tragedy and its aftermath.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The commemoration service was jointly organised by Winston Burrows and Ros Heit, and was compered by Pastor Cam Rub from the Highway Christian Church.<\/p>\n

The day’s proceedings began with a Welcome To Country delivered by Eric Law AM, who reflected on the unchanging nature of the land and the importance that caring for it held for all Australians.<\/p>\n

This care for the land extended to caring for the welfare of other people. He said this was a central feature of Indigenous culture and had also become a hallmark of Australian culture in general.<\/p>\n

Pastor Rub then welcomed the guests, which included surviving relatives of the victims and representatives from the police, fire brigade and SES – some of whom had attended the accident when it occurred – as well as Dr Patrick Lip and representatives from Wondai Hospital who had provided medical attention to the sole survivor.<\/p>\n

After this, Winston Burrows recounted his memories of the fateful night and the effects the accident had on first responders and the community in general.<\/p>\n

He was followed by Isobel Ferrier, daughter of businessman David Ferrier who was killed in the crash.<\/p>\n

Isobel thanked everyone who had assisted at the accident scene 30 years ago, and the Wondai community in general for establishing a memorial and holding Sunday’s commemoration service.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Wondai has shown us extraordinary kindness and support,” Isobel said.<\/p>\n

“You’ve reminded us that the things which unite us are always greater than the things that divide us, and we appreciate this very much.”<\/p>\n

Afterwards, about 30 guests returned to the Wondai Diggers Club for refreshments.<\/p>\n