Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden’s 24 hours before arrest revealed
In the 24 hours before his arrest for the alleged murder of his stepdad, the city’s youngest councillor had a spring in his step. Read his trajectory from a speech, to school visit to handcuffs.
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Under 24 hours out from his arrest for the alleged murder of his stepfather, the Gold Coast’s youngest councillor had a spring in his step. Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden was at the top of his game.
Elected in Division Seven in 2020, covering the suburbs of Arundel, Parkwood and Labrador, the quietly spoken former teacher and top gymnast was at ease.
He breezed through a media interview on Tuesday outside the Evandale Chamber, and returning inside got to his feet and put forward strong arguments.
A colleague says: “It was probably if not his best day, it was in the top two or three in terms of performance. He made some strong points and he delivered them well. When he does contribute – you just wish he’d do it more often.”
In the meeting video of Cr Bayldon-Lumsden, he calmly argues the case for more student accommodation on the southern end of the case.
He fought for the approval of a building opposite the Gold Coast Airport despite it being opposed by the area councillor.
The reason was he had been a “supporter of lifelong education”.
His mother, Katrina, was a deputy school principal, and his own journey from the beginning at Arundel Primary School led him to teaching and helping the disabled.
Outside the chamber, which was flooded with protest groups, he smiled and agreed to be interviewed on his position of light rail going south to the border.
“I thought it should be done 30 years ago,” Cr Bayldon-Lumsden told the Gold Coast Bulletin.
“I got the tram into the air show on the weekend – so did another 100,000 people. It was absolutely chockers. It would have been great if it was done when I was born rather than retrofit it now.”
The following day, the Wednesday, started with Cr Bayldon-Lumsden in his element, attending an event at Arundel State School.
It was a place he knows well – he was a past pupil, former hooker in its rugby team and a regular at P&C meetings.
In what was to be his last Facebook post before his arrest, the councillor posted images of an event to reward children who had walked or cycled to school.
“A beautiful morning for Walk and Wheel Wednesday at Arundel State School,” he wrote.
“Today walkers celebrated arrival with a welcoming sausage sizzle attended by Zero The Hero.”
Sources told the Bulletin that staff at the school had found the councillor to be relaxed and in good form.
He enjoyed the bright sunshine, and interaction with children arriving beneath an arch of brightly coloured balloons.
“He was doing a barbecue (sausage sizzle). He was completely normal, quite happy,” a friend said. “This is all so bizarre. Ryan is very meek and mild — he’s quite gentle.”
His lawyer Jason Murakami has indicated Bayldon-Lumsden intends to plead not guilty to murder.
Originally published as Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden’s 24 hours before arrest revealed
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