DETAILS OF DEATH

On 27 April 1850, the boat attached to the police station at Southport, situated approximately 70 kilometres southwest of Hobart Town, left Southport and set sail up the D’Entrecasteaux Channel for the settlement and police office at Three Hut Point (now known as Gordon), approximately 32 kilometres away.

Three Hut Point was one of a chain of coastal police stations between Hobart Town and Southport in south-east Van Diemen’s Land. The boat is alleged to contain Constables David Waddell, Mathew GROGAN, Peter Shiels, Robert Lewis and an unnamed boat coxswain. On the day the boat set out from Southport there were reports of very heavy winds and rough seas around D’Entrecasteaux Channel area between Hobart and the south of the Island.

After the boat failed to arrive at Three Hut Point a search of the waters between Three Hut Point and Southport was carried out over the coming days without success. On 11 May 1850, the Launceston Examiner Newspaper reported “BOAT LOST – The fears entertained for the safety of the boat attached to the police station at Southport, were too well grounded. The boat is wrecked.”

Later reports indicate that the boat was overturned, and the crew drowned somewhere in the vicinity of Satellite Island, off the west coast of South Bruny Island, approximately 6 kilometres southwest of Three Hut Point. No bodies were located, and no formal inquest was held following the accident.

DETAILS OF DEATH

On 27 April 1850, the boat attached to the police station at Southport, situated approximately 70 kilometres southwest of Hobart Town, left Southport and set sail up the D’Entrecasteaux Channel for the settlement and police office at Three Hut Point (now known as Gordon), approximately 32 kilometres away.

Three Hut Point was one of a chain of coastal police stations between Hobart Town and Southport in south-east Van Diemen’s Land. The boat is alleged to contain Constables David Waddell, Mathew Grogan, Peter Shiels, Robert LEWIS and an unnamed boat coxswain. On the day the boat set out from Southport there were reports of very heavy winds and rough seas around D’Entrecasteaux Channel area between Hobart and the south of the Island.
After the boat failed to arrive at Three Hut Point a search of the waters between Three Hut Point and Southport was carried out over the coming days without success. On 11 May 1850, the Launceston Examiner Newspaper reported “BOAT LOST – The fears entertained for the safety of the boat attached to the police station at Southport, were too well grounded. The boat is wrecked.”

Later reports indicate that the boat was overturned, and the crew drowned somewhere in the vicinity of Satellite Island, off the west coast of South Bruny Island, approximately 6 kilometres southwest of Three Hut Point. No bodies were located, and no formal inquest was held following the accident.

DETAILS OF DEATH

On 27 April 1850, the boat attached to the police station at Southport, situated approximately 70 kilometres southwest of Hobart Town, left Southport and set sail up the D’Entrecasteaux Channel for the settlement and police office at Three Hut Point (now known as Gordon), approximately 32 kilometres away.

Three Hut Point was one of a chain of coastal police stations between Hobart Town and Southport in south-east Van Diemen’s Land. The boat is alleged to contain Constables David Waddell, Mathew Grogan, Peter SHIELS, Robert Lewis and an unnamed boat coxswain. On the day the boat set out from Southport there were reports of very heavy winds and rough seas around D’Entrecasteaux Channel area between Hobart and the south of the Island.
After the boat failed to arrive at Three Hut Point a search of the waters between Three Hut Point and Southport was carried out over the coming days without success. On 11 May 1850, the Launceston Examiner Newspaper reported “BOAT LOST – The fears entertained for the safety of the boat attached to the police station at Southport, were too well grounded. The boat is wrecked.”

Later reports indicate that the boat was overturned, and the crew drowned somewhere in the vicinity of Satellite Island, off the west coast of South Bruny Island, approximately 6 kilometres southwest of Three Hut Point. No bodies were located, and no formal inquest was held following the accident.

DETAILS OF DEATH

On 27 April 1850, the boat attached to the police station at Southport, situated approximately 70 kilometres southwest of Hobart Town, left Southport and set sail up the D’Entrecasteaux Channel for the settlement and police office at Three Hut Point (now known as Gordon), approximately 32 kilometres away.

Three Hut Point was one of a chain of coastal police stations between Hobart Town and Southport in south-east Van Diemen’s Land. The boat is alleged to contain Constables David WADDELL, Mathew Grogan, Peter Shiels, Robert Lewis and an unnamed boat coxswain. On the day the boat set out from Southport there were reports of very heavy winds and rough seas around D’Entrecasteaux Channel area between Hobart and the south of the Island.

After the boat failed to arrive at Three Hut Point a search of the waters between Three Hut Point and Southport was carried out over the coming days without success. On 11 May 1850, the Launceston Examiner Newspaper reported “BOAT LOST – The fears entertained for the safety of the boat attached to the police station at Southport, were too well grounded. The boat is wrecked.”

Later reports indicate that the boat was overturned, and the crew drowned somewhere in the vicinity of Satellite Island, off the west coast of South Bruny Island, approximately 6 kilometres southwest of Three Hut Point. No bodies were located, and no formal inquest was held following the accident.

DETAILS OF DEATH

About 2.25am on 27 April 1989 Constable Burgess was driving a caged Police vehicle in Booth Street Annandale. Constable Andrew Mortimer was observer in the vehicle and the pair were responding to an urgent call for assistance from Gaming Squad Police. At the intersection of Johnston Street the Police vehicle collided with a semi trailer and deflected onto a power pole. As a result of the accident Constable Andrew Mortimer suffered fractures to his ribs and jaw and Constable Burgess suffered severe head and internal injuries. Constable Burgess died about twelve hours later at the Prince Alfred Hospital. The Constable was born in 1960 and joined the New South Wales Police Service on 28 October 1985. At the time of his death he was stationed at Balmain.