REMEMBER WHEN

GOLD COAST BULLETIN Friday, May 21, 2004

BROADWATER MP Peta-Kaye Croft rushed to her father’s bedside at Townsville Hospital where he was in a critical condition after a terrifying home invasion.

Owen Jefferis, 79, was brutally beaten by two masked men in an unprovoked attack at Cloncurry, in northwestern Queensland.

Mr Jefferis had gone to the aid of partner Joy ‘Tiny’ Heck when the robbers attacked.

They knocked the 71-yearold to the ground, punching her in the face, before turning on Mr Jefferis.

The men punched and kicked the World War II veteran, even after he fell to the ground. His jaw was broken in four places, one of his eyes was severely damaged, and several ribs were broken.

The thugs also kicked him in the kneecaps.

Despite such serious injuries, Mr Jefferis showed amazing strength by walking to the nearby ambulance station.

He was flown by the Queensland Rescue helicopter to Townsville Hospital in a critical condition.

Ms Heck suffered serious bruising to her face and was being cared for by friends in Cloncurry.

Ms Croft kept a bedside vigil with the rest of her family since arriving in Townsville

The youngest of eight children, the 32-year-old was believed to be close to her father.

Although her parents divorced when she was very young, Ms Croft kept in regular contact with her half-brothers and sisters, some of whom lived in various parts of the state and travelled long distances to be at their father’s side.