10 stories that defined our year in the Southern Downs – FULL LIST
This year our region experienced one of the worst years on our roads this decade, the border and youth crime crises exploded, and there were sweeping changes in council chambers. These are the stories that defined 2024.
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From heartbreaking tragedies on our roads to the eternal youth crime debate, these are the stories that defined our year.
Across the Southern Downs this publication has endeavoured to keep residents informed and aware of events that matter to the region, and the human story behind them.
In 2024, we saw one of the worst year on our roads this decade, the border and youth crime-crisis explode, and tragedy in our region.
These are the 10 stories that defined the year.
TRAGIC FATALITIES
It has simply been a horror year on the roads of South West Queensland.
For many it will feel like there has been a terrible and tragic road fatality every week, and the data suggest this could be the case.
Data from the Department of Transport and Main Roads show road fatalities have grown year on year since 2020, with 57 deaths reported in the Southern Region as of December 2.
Queensland police say approximately 27 per cent of all Queensland road fatalities this year have been motorcyclists or pillion passengers, with 51 riders lives lost as of August statewide.
With 1.09 road deaths recorded every week, and the year not over yet, it is a sobering reminder to be careful on our region’s roads.
Two-thirds of road deaths around Australia have occurred on regional roads.
Our region is the joint highest in road fatalities in 2024, in a grim tie with the North Coast region.
We remember the lives lost on our region’s roads, each one a tragedy.
RINGLEADER JAILED
A Warwick man who orchestrated an “atrocious” attack on an innocent young woman and gave instructions over the phone to his co-offenders to commit acts of torture, rape and bestiality against her has faced court, ending a crime saga which shocked the Rose City.
Jason Allen Martin stood mostly silent in a brown prison tracksuit as he appeared in Warwick District Court on February 1 for his role in a shocking and sickening attack on a young woman in 2022.
Almost two years ago on February 25, 2022 Martin was laying in a Princess Alexandra Hospital bed after being shot in the abdomen 10 days earlier in a brazen broad daylight shooting.
The court was told that Martin, from the hospital, delivered sickening instructions over the phone to two co-offenders after they had abducted the young woman and taken her to his home.
Judge Nathan Jarro said the crimes Martin contributed to were categorised as “some of the most sickening, vile and degrading offences” which could be inflicted onto a person.
The justice labelled Martin as “atrocious” and said the community would not tolerate his “low life and hideous offending” and that he deserved contempt from the community.
Martin was imprisoned for a total period of three and a half years, with his parole eligibility dated at February 1.
TRAGIC CAMPSITE DEATH
A major search and rescue operation in the Southern Downs came to a tragic end after a 21-year-old who went missing from a popular campground was found dead.
The woman‘s body was found in a nearby area mere hours after she was reported missing.
Warwick detectives investigated the circumstances and cause of the woman’s death, and it is understood it’s not suspicious.
It is understood the Brisbane woman went missing from the Janowen Hills campground in the Goomburra Valley about 11.40pm August 8.
She was last seen wearing a pink jumpsuit and tracksuit pants.
An aerial search initially began about 2am to look for the woman, before recommencing in the daylight, before making the tragic discovery about 8am on August 9.
SNOW AT STANTHORPE
Magical snow fell on southern Queensland, and although more common than you think, people absolutely love it.
Oakey, just west of Toowoomba was the coldest place in Queensland on July 17, dropping to -3.2C at 6.20am, but it felt far colder at -5.7C.
Brisbane experienced its coldest morning in over a year as the mercury dropped to 7.4C.
A mass of tourists also travelled to the Granite Belt solely to see a glimpse of the snow, a common occurrence whenever the mercury dips into the negatives.
FORMALS DAZZLED
It’s always an enchanting time to see the next generation dazzle at their school formals.
From Stanthorpe to Warwick we were there to cover the amazing moments for the graduates.
YOUTH CRIME CRISIS
The statewide issue of youth crime may have had the most spotlight this year, and sadly the Rose City is no different, with a raft of offending groups using our town as their personal playground.
And they’re more mobile than ever.
Perhaps the most notable was a wild cross-region spree that ended in dramatic fashion in Warwick.
Entering the Rose City from the west, police tracked the group on Wood and Wallace streets.
“The alleged stolen vehicle was first sighted in Goondiwindi, before patrols located it at Warwick leading to officers pursuing it,” a Warwick police officer said.
It is understood local police used road spokes on the vehicle, leading the children to flee and dump the car in East Warwick, around the Canning St area.
The dog squad was used to locate the youths, with the 15-year-old who police believe was “the ringleader” located a short time later allegedly hiding underneath a house.
The juvenile is understood to have 70 outstanding charges, from Toowoomba, Warwick and Brisbane, which local police confirmed were mainly alleged break and enter and stealing vehicle offences.
CROSS-BORDER TERROR
Burnt out shells of cars left to rot south of the border are a clear indicator the cross-state crisis seems is not slowing down.
A spate of recent events have shown despite government and policing presence in the region, residents and their businesses and vehicles are still at risk.
The border crime crisis has been featured in national media since June, but locals know the problem has been going on long before that.
Almost 300,000 Queensland residents were victims of crime in the past 12 months as break-ins and car thefts soar.
Queensland Police Service data shows while offences like unlawful use of a motor vehicle spike in the summer months, trends over the past several years has shown the crime has increased to mammoth levels.
Offences across Queensland have also spiked to their highest levels since 2000, with more than 600,000 offences reported.
Meanwhile, vehicle theft hit levels not seen in more than two decades, with more than 18,000 motor vehicles stolen across the state.
COUNCIL SHAKEUP
From an election bombshell to a chief executive termination saga, 2024 has been a massive year for drama at Southern Downs Regional Council.
In March, seemingly popular incumbent frontrunner Vic Pennisi was beaten at the polls for mayor by first time candidate Melissa Hamilton.
The relatively unknown candidate faced unwarranted criticism, misinformation and hate throughout her campaign, in a sad new reality for females in politics.
Women were the big winners in local politics however, with the new Southern Downs Regional councillors one of the most diverse councils in Queensland.
A sensational sacking came after the election, with outgoing chief executive Dave Burges’ contract being terminated via a council livestream.
This prompted much debate across the region with councillors and even the mayor weighing in.
The termination saga seems to have come to a close after newcomer to the region, but no stranger to local politics, Rachel Brophy announced this week as the new chief executive.
Based on how this year has gone, it will be a surprise if there is not some controversy, drama or fallout within the walls of council
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHAME
Award-winning journalist Jess Klein exposed the horrifying truth around domestic violence in regional communities - where you can’t hear the women scream.
Domestic violence service providers across rural Queensland are calling for more awareness and funding to help the growing number of women and their children living on farming properties suffering from hidden abuse.
Advocates and victims say it’s due to a mix of fear of retribution, a lack of resources in rural areas and a lingering stigma against speaking openly about domestic abuse.
In the small communities throughout the Southern Downs and wider southwest, police are overwhelmed by the number of domestic and family violence reports coming through.
The smaller the community, the more complex and difficult the challenge for domestic violence services, according to Lifeline Darling Downs South West chief executive Rachelle Patterson.
“In really tiny communities if a perpetrator is removed from the house when they’ve committed an act (of domestic violence), it doesn’t always mean the woman and her children are safer,” Ms Patterson said.
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