Fortune in hiding
Loner makes cash burial
A DELUSIONAL loner who wore a bomb vest for more than a year buried a fortune on his property before blowing himself up, his inquest has heard.
Troubled self-taught explosives nut Glenn ‘Colonel’ Sanders told friends and family he withdrew $250,000 and hid it on his 72ha cattle property at Derrinallum near Colac.
“Glenn also told me that he withdrew $250,000 out of the bank. I saw this on the statement. He was withdrawing the money because he was worried the ‘Bundi’s’ (conmen) were going to take it. He also told me that he had buried the money on the property in four spots,” brother Andrew Sanders told police.
Mr Sanders died on April 12, 2014, after a series of explosions destroyed his property and his bomb vest detonated.
Two Special Operation Group officers were injured in the chaos.
Mr Sanders spent his entire life on the property, building a network of underground bunkers, sheds and hiding spots.
It also emerged yesterday that Sen-Constable Paul Avery became concerned Sanders was wearing a bomb during a routine welfare visit on October 28, 2013, almost six months before his death.
“I said ‘Glenn, you are standing a little different today. Are you wearing something under your shirt’,” Constable Avery told the inquest.
“I had reason to suspect he could be wearing a device.”
Constable Avery said he submitted a detailed intelligence report on the police system recording his concerns.
On March 31, a friend of Mr Sanders’ told Ballarat detective Mark Howard that he was wearing a bomb vest.
Sen-Constable Howard yesterday told the inquest he confirmed the information and passed it on to the Arson and Explosives Squad.
The inquest, at the Warrnambool Magistrates’ Court, continues. ROS Pollard understands first hand the healing power of having a creative outlet when confined to a hospital bed.
The 39-year-old Ocean Grove resident was once confined to a hospital bed for five months during her battle with a life-threatening illness.
Now she walks the wards of St John of God hospital taking her mobile art studio — the Cartwheels program — to the bedside of patients.
“I understand how patients can feel,” Ms Pollard said.
“You need something to get you through challenging times. You are stuck in bed and you are looking for something to give you nourishment for healing. Art can provide that — it is an outlet for the emotions you are feeling.”
Art has been shown to improve clinical outcomes, particularly for stroke and dementia patients, by alleviating pain and boosting moods.
Watercolour, landscape, mandala and rock painting