EMERGENCY REPORT
Firies injured
EARLIER this week I had a yarn with DJ Roberts and what an upbeat and positive bloke he is after almost all the family’s possessions were lost in a house fire last Sunday.
He understands that Sunday morning could have been so much worse after the roof of the house they were living in collapsed onto two firefighters who were inside at the time, searching the home for people.
It’s a desperate scenario when firies are unsure whether or not there’s anyone inside a blazing house – I’ve done the simulated training in a shipping container and that’s hairy enough even though there’s no risk in that situation, and you know full well that no one’s life is on the line, so to be thrust into the real thing must be terrifying.
Here’s what Fire and Rescue NSW had to say about the incident:
Two firefighters were injured during the incident, with one firefighter transported to hospital by ambulance. This firefighter was later released from hospital with minor injuries.
That’s pretty dry by any accounts, so on behalf of everyone here at Dubbo Photo News, thank you so much for your service.
DJ’S wife Eliza had given birth to daughter Morgan and was at Dubbo Hospital when the house went up in flames – DJ was up there at the time and rushed back to see what he could salvage when his flatmate Josh called to say that the house was well alight. He said the incident had taken its toll on his housemate – often it’s the aftermath that can create much of the pain.
“Josh isn’t in a good space mentally at the moment as he was in the house when it was on fire so he is lost for words and he has gone to his mum’s place which is about five hours away just to be with his family at this time,” DJ said.
“He is still very shaken, and just not in a good way.
“Thankfully the hospital has been amazing and has been super accommodating to Eliza and Morgan. They have been great, we are still having ups and downs but are definitely getting there.”
Family friend Pagan Hockley has set up a Gofundme page for the family and it’s been ticking along nicely, a fact DJ said his little family is incredibly grateful for.
“In terms of help, donations and support, all three of us are overwhelmed with how much love and
support we are getting from complete strangers. It’s so incredible to see a community work together and help us out with things,” he said.
“We have just been so overwhelmed we have had offers of clothing, furniture and so much baby stuff – it’s just so incredible we don’t know how to thank everyone who has helped us already.
“We were renting the property through Matt Hansen Real Estate and the entire team there have been beyond incredible for the help they have given all of us. In less than 24 hours we have got another rental through them, they have just worked wonders for us and I could never thank our agent, Alisson, so so much.”
Servo armed hold-up
THERE’S been a spate of semi-spectacular robberies in the region during the past week or so, the latest in Coonamble and police are keen for community help when it comes to tipping them off about who did it, or even anyone who saw it happen or has suspicions.
Police were told a man armed with a knife entered the service station on Aberford Street shortly after 5am on Monday morning, July 5, and allegedly threatened the 36-year-old male attendant before stealing cash and leaving the scene.
Thankfully the attendant was physically unscathed.
As investigations continue, police would like to speak with a man who may be able to assist with their inquiries.
He is described as being about 170-180cm tall, of medium build and has a tanned complexion. He was last seen wearing a green hooded jumper with a black vest,
black tracksuit pants, a royal blue coloured cap, black joggers and was wearing a mask on his face.
Orana Mall ram-raid
IT sounds like something out of a movie, a ram raid through the front wall at Orana Mall and into the Angus And Coote jewellery store.
The saga began 160km away in Orange on Saturday evening when, shortly after 11pm on July 3, police were called to a jewellery store on Summer Street after reports of a forced entry.
Police examined CCTV footage which apparently depicts two men smashing several glass display counters inside the store and taking
a large quantity of jewellery.
The two men were driven from the scene in a silver Kia Motor Sportage hatchback, believed to be stolen.
Then, just before 6.30am last Sunday (July 4) Dubbo police were called to Orana Mall following reports of a ram-raid.
On arrival police found the front doors smashed and a store inside extensively damaged after a vehicle was used to force entry to the shopping centre.
A crime scene was established, and detectives commenced an investigation – it looks like the people involved in the Orange heist fled in the same vehicle that was used as the getaway car for the Orange jewellery job.
Following inquiries, the Kia Sportage was located in the driveway of a home on Elizabeth Street, Wellington, about 11.30am the same day – it was seized for forensic analysis.
Police are appealing for anyone with information to come forward or contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
In this day and age of celebrity idiots, I wonder if these fools filmed their escapades – that would be great footage to see played in court at their trial, I can’t wait.
Parked Up
NO-ONE was injured when a train derailed just west of Parkes on
July 4, alongside the Brolgan Road level crossing.
Just after 6pm emergency services were alerted with Fire and Rescue NSW and Rural Fire Service crews attending the incident.
Three thousand litres of diesel spilled into a causeway and officers from the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) said thanks to quick work from Fire and Rescue NSW Station 417 Parkes in setting up containment booms, there was no immediate risk of environmental harm.
Man charged over alleged child grooming
A MAN has been charged following an investigation into alleged child grooming offences.
Interest in this case began on May 4 when local police, assisted by the Child Abuse and Sex Crime Command’s Child Exploitation Internet Unit, began investigating allegations a carriage service had been used in the attempted grooming of a teenage girl, and on July 3, detectives executed a search warrant at a home in Walgett shortly after 9am.
A 21-year-old man was arrested and taken to Walgett Police Station where he was charged with use a carriage service to solicit child sex abuse material and use carriage service to send indecent material to person under 16.
The man was granted conditional bail to appear before Walgett Local Court on Tuesday, July 27.
Pinned people came here via train
THE photo at left looks innocuous enough, the good old 5917 and accompanying diesel locos stopping in at Binnaway so passengers could disembark and have lunch at the local bowling club.
Unfortunately there’s a hidden underbelly here – many of the passengers were from Sydney Covid hotspots and the Sydney tour company which reportedly charged them $4000 a pop ($3500 twin-share) didn’t call off the trip just because the state government introduced some pesky restrictions.
The tour group was eventually busted trying to enter Dubbo’s Taronga Western Plains Zoo.
120-odd people at say $3500 each adds up to a nice chunk of change, somewhere between $400,000 and $500,000 all up, and many in the community aren’t happy at what’s been labelled pure greed.
The tour company, which I won’t name here at this stage, hasn’t responded to my requests for information.
Police fined the company $5000, which has resulted in community outrage as well, with the operator telling police they were aware of the new regulations but chose to continue the tour anyway.
After further investigations into the circumstances surrounding the tour, police issued passengers with cautions under the Public Health Act.
Covidiots
UNBELIEVABLE but allegedly true: police noticed an unregistered car parked in a ‘no stopping’ zone outside a Dunedoo hotel about 8.50pm last Saturday, July 3.
The cops identified the driver and discovered he was one of three people who’d travelled from Sydney that day and were booked
to spend the night in the town.
The three alleged stooges, a 44-year-old man from Haberfield, a 51-year-old man from Fairfield West and a 38-yearold woman from Burwood, were issued $1000 PINS for not comply with noticed direction 7/8/9 Covid-19.
They were also issued traffic infringement notices for driving an unregistered vehicle and being parked in a ‘no stopping’ zone.
Absolutely amazing.
Updated structure of Commissioner’s Executive Team
POLICE media let me know that as of 5pm Tuesday, June 29, the following Police Executive command alignments have commenced, including: Deputy Commissioner Mick Willing APM – Regional NSW Field Operations.
It’s been a busy week for speculation in the NSW cops with commissioner Mick Fuller announcing he’s set to retire when his five-year term ends in April 2022 – he won’t be seeking renewal to his contract.
This puts former West Dubbo lad Mick Willing in as one of the main contenders for the top job.
Load fail Coona-style
I’VE carted a few weird loads in my time as a truck driver but I can’t recall ever using a trailer with a hitch made from wood.
Now, I doubt deputy commissioner Mick Willing will be setting up a taskforce to look into this incident, but Coonabarabran’s Highway Patrol officers took a good, hard look at it.
What police described as a homemade box trailer with a four-bytwo wooden plank as a drawbar, snapped after going over a bumpy road. Coonabarabran Highway Patrol has taken action against the driver towing the trailer.
Gilgandra fatal crash
ON June 29 a dreaded stretch of the Newell Highway claimed yet another victim in a fatal crash.
About 1pm emergency services were called to the scene about 10km south of Gilgandra.
Police believe the vehicle left the roadway and crashed into a tree down an embankment and the driver – an 80-year-old man – was airlifted to John Hunter Hospital, where he remains in a serious but stable condition.
The female passenger, believed to be 78 years old, was freed from the vehicle by rescue workers but died a short time later.
An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash is underway and anyone who may have dashcam footage or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1900 333 000.
A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.
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