Mackay police pay respects to colleagues gunned down in Western Downs ambush

Mackay police joined their colleagues from across the state, nationally and internationally to pay their respects to two constables who were ambushed and killed in the horror Wieambilla shooting.

Wreaths were laid at the Mackay memorial service held at the convention centre on December 21, 2022. Picture: Andrew Kacimaiwai

Mackay police took part in a memorial service for two officers who were killed in an ambush near Tara in the Western Downs on December 12.

Constables Rachel McCrow, Matthew Arnold and neighbouring resident Alan Dare were gunned down at a Wieambilla property by brothers Nathaniel and Gareth Train, and Gareth‘s wife Stacey.

Police of all ranks were joined by other emergency services crew, family, friends and the public to pay their respects to the two constables in their own service before they joined a lifestream broadcast of the memorial service in Brisbane.

Mackay Mayor Greg Williamson described the killings as “unthinkable”.

“What happened to those two — it’s unthinkable,” he said.

Mackay police laid wreaths at their memorial service held at the Mackay convention centre on December 21, 2022. Picture: Andrew Kacimaiwai

“We are here to honour those two and pay our respects to all our emergency service personnel.”

“To have it happen was unthinkable and in a rural community — that’s what shocked everyone.”

He also said police officers he had talked to had been unsettled by the deadly attack.

The slain duo’s memorial service was live-streamed from Brisbane to the Mackay service. Picture: Andrew Kacimaiwai

Former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce was among the audience who attended the service at the MECC.

A flag party and wreath-laying ceremony, with a lone bagpipe playing, was held at the centre before the broadcast of the Brisbane service, which was attended by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

The Brisbane service was also attended by law enforcement officials from the US and New Zealand.

The Queensland Police Union is reportedly planning to buy the property to prevent others from using the site for their own purposes.