When you begin to meet your forefathers you often meet real life people too and so it has been for me. I started with just my Grandmothers name and found some wonderful friends, I will let you work out the relationship - my grandmother's sister's son's daughter and her family :)
Then tragedy struck these newly found friends, their son and brother was shot in the back during a barrage of fire just a few days ago while doing his job in Moree NSW.
What a mix of emotions I felt as I was writing about this family and suddenly I needed to put a deceased date and story beside his annotation.
As information poured in from Australian news sites I began to piece together a horrific story of the mindless killing of a good man. Issues that filled in the background of the man who pulled the trigger emerged and one has to wonder what sort of person shoots an innocent family man in the back over an argument with the government.
If I felt such sadness and turmoil how much more his siblings, Mum and Dad, wife and two children will be experiencing. Very sad days.
A tribute to GLEN TURNER 1963 - 2014
MOREE SHOOTING: FORMER WAUCHOPE MAN GLEN TURNER KILLED
A WAUCHOPE born man was killed in
a shooting on a property near Moree on Wednesday. Glendon (Glen) Eric Turner, 51,
was working as an environment and heritage officer when he attended a property
near Talga Lane at Croppa Creek. A 79 year old local resident, Ian
Robert Turnbull, has been charged with murder and faced Moree Local Court
yesterday. He was refused bail.
Mr Turner was born in Wauchope in
1962 but grew up and attended school in Telegraph Point where the family
originally lived. He attended Newcastle University,
where he obtained his Bachelor of Surveying degree. After working as a surveyor
overseas, he returned to Australia, making Tamworth his home and working in
what is now the office of environment and heritage, a NSW government department.
A family spokesperson said his
passing comes at a time when dreams of the farm and family were coming to
fruition. "He met his life partner
Alison in Tamworth and they settled in a place they built together on a
property in the Tamworth area, where they had two gorgeous children, Alexandra
aged 10 and Jack aged 9," the spokesperson said.
"Glen was an accomplished
pianist, a gourmet enthusiast and cook, and appreciated a fine wine. He had
also developed a passion for home-brewing, which he viewed as a craft, forever
striving to achieve that perfect brew. He always gravitated to the
outdoor life and particularly loved taking his kids to the beach, whenever he
returned to Port Macquarie - as well as enjoying his quiet time at home with
the family and working together with Alison on their property".
"He leaves behind Alison and their two children Alexandra and
Jack, together with parents Jack and Coral, sisters Therese, Fran and Rosalie -
as well as numerous other extended family members, work colleagues and close
friends, all of whom will mourn his early passing and miss him greatly." WAUCHOPE GAZETTE 1st August 2014
MY DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILY
kia kaha my friends - be strong
The small community of Moree where the murder took place is both bewildered and confused trying to come to terms with an explosion of hate that turned a formerly well respected member of their community into a killer. Propelled by their communal sorrow Moree has created a fund to be held in trust for the two young children of Alison and Glen. It
is a cautionary tale. But why does tragedy have to occur, made so much
worse when tragedy hits such a well respected and loved contributor of
positive things to the community, for people to sit up and listen. What
scrappy piece of bush is worth a man's life? How is it that anger can
boil over in such a destructive way where one human can so callously
risk, and kill, another human being. Glen
will be remembered not only for the wonderful man, husband and father
he was, but also for stirring the conscience of a Nation and challenging
haters to consider the consequences of their actions.
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