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Crosses greet Broome inquest

12 November 2007 - Hundreds of small white crosses symbolising the high number of Aboriginal deaths
in the Kimberley will today confront State Coroner Alastair Hope as he arrives at the Broome court to resume his inquest into indigenous deaths.

Fitzroy Crossing Aboriginal leader Joe Ross organised the crosses to represent the fact that indigenous people are losing their loved ones too young and too often

Over the next two weeks in Broome, Mr Hope will hear details of four hanging suicides of young Aboriginals aged between 17 and 24. All four were alcohol and/or drug-related.

The coronial inquest into more than 20 alcohol and drug-related indigenous deaths in the Kimberley in the past seven years began last month with hearings in Derby, Fitzroy Crossing and Kununurra.

The lawyer representing families at the inquest, John Hammond, said yesterday he had been told Lt-Gen. John Sanderson, the State Government’s special adviser on indigenous affairs, was likely to attend the inquest on Thursday.

Mr Hammond will tell Mr Hope today of the dire lack of accommodation for Aboriginals in Broome.

“There is an incredible contrast between those sipping cocktails at Cable Beach compared to the Aboriginal people that are homeless sitting on Kennedy Hill with two-litre casks of chardonnay,” he said.

“The State Government knows about it (and) has done nothing about it to the point where there isn’t even a short-term hostel for people with alcohol and drug problems.

“There is a rehab centre but you have to meet strict criteria to fit into that. You can see mothers passed out due to alcohol intoxication with babies still suckling their breasts.”

Kennedy Hill is a notorious drinking spot where many Aboriginals camp at night alongside Broome’s four-star Mangrove Hotel.

Mr Hope will hear evidence today from Wayne Bowen, the licensee at Fitzroy Crossing’s main hotel, the Crossing Inn. There is a six-month ban on almost all takeaway alcohol from the notorious pub.

Senior bureaucrats from the WA Country Health Service, WA Drug and Alcohol Office, Department of Housing and Works, Department of Child Protection and Education Department are also expected to appear as witnesses at the hearings.

Mona Angus, whose 23-year-old grandson’s death is one of the suicides to be investigated, will attend today’s hearing with other relatives, including Andrew Sampi.

Ms Angus said yesterday that there were no warning signs that her grandson, who is not named for cultural reasons, wanted to kill himself.

“He was in a good mood that night,” she said. “He must have felt hurt but he never tell us that’s why I tell the young fellas if they’ve got a problem they need to talk to us.”

Source: The West Australian

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