Adelaide landmarks turn lights blue in tribute to crash victim, Chief Superintendent Joanne Shanahan
Iconic Adelaide buildings were lit up in blue on Monday night to honour the life of senior police officer Joanne Shanahan, who was killed in a crash on the weekend.
SA News
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Blue lights guided South Australian police officers to landmark city buildings last night to commemorate the tragic loss of one of their own.
Chief Superintendent Joanne Shanahan and businesswoman Tania McNeill, 53, were killed in a three-car crash at the intersection of Cross and Fullarton roads, Urrbrae, on Saturday afternoon.
Town Hall, Adelaide Oval, the Convention Centre, Parliament House and the Entertainment Centre were illuminated blue from about 6pm in a sign of respect for the highly regarded 55-year old police officer, wife and mother of two.
“It really is a touching tribute to our boss,” said a patrol officer at the Riverbank Precinct, who did not wish to be named.
At Adelaide Oval, Detective Michelle Alexander, like many of her colleagues, said she was impressed by the public show of respect for a woman many of them did not know.
Annette Reid and her family visited the Town Hall and riverbank precinct to salute Chief-Supt Shanahan.
“We are happy to pay our respects to Joanne and have a quiet moment to think about her family,” said Ms Reid, who had never met Chief-Supt Shanahan.
Ms Reid said her neighbours included several retired and acting police officers who knew her very well.
The Dodson family from the northeastern suburbs, who also visited Town Hall, said the tragedy had struck a chord with many.
“We are Joanne’s age and we have young, adult children,” said Kirstin Dodson, 49.
“We feel she was someone who was special and very well respected, particularly for her work in domestic violence.”
A police spokesman said lighting up the buildings was one way officers and the public could mourn Chief-Supt Shanahan, especially during COVID-19 restrictions on large gatherings.
“Police have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of grief from those who worked with Chief-Supt Shanahan, those who knew her and the general public,” he said.
Police were last night yet to interview a 20-year-old Urrbrae man who was driving a VW ute involved in the crash.
Chief-Supt Shanahan’s husband, Peter, was treated for minor injuries.
Yesterday, Premier Steven Marshall paid tribute to the two women. “These were tragedies for South Australia, two fine … women,” he said.
“It was a very sad day.”
He said Chief-Supt Shanahan was well known in Government from her fight against domestic and family violence.
She had also helped establish the state’s COVID-19 operation centre.
