Family says Brisbane mum, daughter died in NZ volcano horror

Brisbane mother and daughter, Julia and Jessica Richards, are understood to have been found deceased following the White Island volcano disaster in New Zealand.

BRISBANE mother and daughter, Julia and Jessica Richards, are understood to have been found deceased following the White Island volcano disaster in New Zealand.

A relative said family members had just been informed this morning.

Distraught relatives are preparing to fly to New Zealand.

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Family members had been “praying for a miracle” .

Jen Eborn, the sister-in-law of Ms Richards, this morning took to social media and said: “The family are praying for a miracle to bring them back to us.. we love you Julie and Jess.. please uphold the family and the other families who are also waiting on news of their love ones.”

Speaking of the Brisbane mother and her daughter, Matthew Whitehead said “unfortunately my sister-in-law and our niece were on White Island when it erupted”.

“It has been a very difficult time for the entire Family,” he wrote online.

“We have been told NOTHING, we don’t know if they are in a hospital or on the island.

“The Dept of Foreign Affairs are doing all they can but are being hamstrung by the Caribbean Ship Liner because they are the first point of contact and they can’t tell us anything.

Jessica and Julie Richards were listed as missing by Jessica’s father Tony Richards.

“The NZ Police have been amazing as have the Australian Dept of Foreign Affairs.

“The Caribbean Liner are hopeless and their behaviour is nothing short of criminal.

“We have rung the Hospitals but unfortunately they won’t release any information on patients because of confidential laws, so we all sit here waiting with no response from Caribbean.”

OVERNIGHT: HOPING AGAINST HOPE FOR BRISBANE MUM, DAUGHTER

MORE than a dozen Australians, including a Brisbane mother and daughter, were still unaccounted for at the killer White Island volcano – at best they are lying in hospital beds unable to contact family, at worst they are dead.

Julie and Jessica Richards, aged 47 and 20, were listed as missing by Jessica’s father Tony Richards.

The pair, from Calamvale, were holidaying together on board the Ovation of the Sea cruise ship, Julie’s sister Barbara Whitehead said yesterday.

It is believed they had booked an excursion to White Island during their holiday.

“We still haven’t heard anything yet,” Ms Whitehead said.

Julie is listed as a director and part-owner of electronic design and manufacture company Vtron Pty Ltd, which is based on the Gold Coast, Jessica is studying veterinary ­science at the University of Queensland, according to friend Tayla Delaforce, who said she was passionate about the course.

“She was always so in love with it through high school, she was definitely passionate about it,” she said, describing Jessica as “one of the nicest people” she had ever met.

“She’s lovely... and would do anything for anyone who asked – just very generous and a happy soul. And ... loved animals,” she said.

Julie and Jessica Richards.

The mother and daughter are from Calamvale.

Two Sydney families of four were also among those unaccounted for yesterday.

The Langford family – including parents Anthony and Kristine and their children Jesse, 19, and Winona, 17 – left Sydney on the Ovation of the Seas cruise ship last week and loved ones were yesterday clinging to hope.

Jesse’s former principal at Marist College North Shore, Tony Duncan, said in a statement: “it is with a heavy heart that I can confirm to you that several members of our ­Marist North Shore family are missing”.

“Jesse, who graduated last year was a talented and popular student during his time at the school, finishing up as Mackillop House captain.

“Jesse has been a student at Marist since Year 7, with his family remembered fondly around the College.

“Please have the Langford family in your prayers.”

Anthony’s brother Rodney, who lives in a duplex beside his brother’s family, said he desperately wanted more information.

“We know that they went on a cruise on the island and there’s an explosion and they’re missing,” he said.

“I’m hoping somebody knows anything, has seen my brother, knows my brother.”

Sydney’s Knox Grammar School yesterday informed parents that Year 8 student Matthew Hollander and Year 10 student Berend Hollander, along with their parents Martin and Barbara, were missing.

“It is with a heavy heart that I can confirm that a Knox family is currently unaccounted for... in the eruption,” headmaster Scott James wrote.

An Adelaide family – lawyer Gavin Dallow, 53, his partner Lisa Hosking, 48, and her daughter Zoe Hosking, 15 – were also listed as missing by the Red Cross last night, having taken a day trip onto the island from the cruise. Lisa has since been found in hospital.

Mr Dallow’s father Brian said “I’m wrecked” as he waited anxiously for more news from authorities.

“We had the phone with us all last night … we don’t know anything, we haven’t heard anything,” Brian said.

New Zealand organisation Restoring Family Links has been collating names of missing people following the tragedy and also listed seven-year-old Australian boy Ziggy Viero as missing, but the North Queensland child is safe and well.

On Wednesday morning, a loved one of the Viero family said Ziggy, his mother Wendy, and father Clinton were all safe.

“Just like to let everyone know that Viv Wendy and Ziggy are safe and together at the Bay of Plenty in New Zealand,” the friend wrote.

One friend spoke of his feelings after seeing Ziggy’s name appear on the missing list.

“Thank God for that ...just saw a list of the missing and Ziggy was on it ....was heartbroken ....Better now Thank-you,” the friend wrote on Facebook.

“I felt so sick last night when I saw the list,” another friend commented.

Another Brisbane couple, James and Madeleine Whitehouse, have been found safe.

Meanwhile, married Brisbane couple James and Madeleine Whitehouse, aged 23 and 24 respectively, were reported safe and well by Mrs Whitehouse’s employer the Salvation Army.

Brisbane woman, Amy Miall, 30, was also reported as alive and well by her brother Tony Miall. Amy’s partner Mathew Thomas, 31, from Tamworth, was also safe.

Townsville woman Karen Brechin, 62, was found after being reported missing on Monday, as was Townsville man Robert Rogers, 78.

Both were on board a cruise ship nearby.

Coffs Harbour couple Richard Elzer, 32, and Karla Mathews, 32, remained missing, while Jason Griffiths, 33, who they were travelling with was being treated in hospital.

Mr Griffiths’ brother-in-law Steve Jarzynski told New Zealand media he was in a critical condition.

“He’s hurt pretty bad,” Mr Jarzynski told stuff.co.nz.

Mr Jarzynski said his wife, Melissa, was trying to get to New Zealand to be with her brother but was struggling to afford flights.

Additional reporting Thomas Chamberlin, Nick Hansen and Adella Beaini