Wieambilla shooting: Ian Leavers marks one year since massacre

Set to mark the first anniversary of the Wieambilla police shooting this week, union boss Ian Leavers reflects on the uncertainty of that horrible day, the painful year since and the touching response from the Queensland public.

It was a Monday afternoon just 13 days before Christmas.

Constable Matthew Arnold had packed up his Ford Ranger and was planning to head home to Brisbane for Christmas when his shift ended. But Arnold wouldn’t see Christmas 2022.

Neither would his fellow officer Constable Rachel McCrow, who left Tara Police Station with Arnold on December 12, 2022, for a routine missing persons inquiry – and never returned.

On the eve of the anniversary of Queensland’s worst police killing – which also has the infamy of being Australia’s first fundamentalist Christian terrorist attack – Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers recalls the devastating moment he received the call two officers were down.

Rachel McCrow.

Matthew Arnold.

“It was a very chilling time,” he said, speaking exclusively to The Sunday Mail ahead of the first anniversary of the Western Downs atrocity.

“I had received a phone call from a colleague telling me that there had been an incident out at Wieambilla and that at least two of our colleagues had been shot – possibly more.

“What we were still unsure of was our other colleagues who were at the scene – what condition they were in, whether or not they had been shot as well – that was still unfolding … it was all happening very very quickly.”

Constables Arnold and McCrow from Tara Police Station and Constables Randall Kirk and Keely Brough from Chinchilla Police Station went to the Wains Rd property in search of Nathaniel Train, who had been reported missing in New South Wales.

That afternoon constables Arnold and McCrow were murdered by conspiracy theorists Nathaniel and Gareth and Stacey Train, who are believed to have lain in wait for police and orchestrated a “religiously motivated terrorist attack” before being gunned down by specialist police later that night.

Queensland Police Union boss Ian Leavers.

In the past 12 months, Mr Leavers said the Arnold and McCrow families had endured many heartbreaking firsts.

“It was very raw … 13 days before Christmas … then we had the New Year … then we had birthdays … then Easter and many other firsts that would have taken place without Matthew and Rachel,” he said.

“Matthew being a triplet – that certainly has struck a chord with Matthew’s brother and sister as well as his parents … I know Rachel’s sister … Rach would be an aunt if she was still alive today.

“I have no doubt on the 12th of December 2023 – it is going to hit the families again.”

Mr Leavers said constables Arnold and McCrow were “in the prime of their lives” and that there had been an “outpouring of emotion” in Chinchilla and Tara following the massacre.

“I had people in the street coming up to me … they were in tears and saying ‘we are so sorry that this took place in our part of the world – this is not the way we live here – it’s an absolute disgrace’ … they were really hurting,” Mr Leavers said.

The Train property at Wieambilla where Rachel McCrow, Matthew Arnold and Alan Dare were killed. Picture: Liam Kidston

“Young children, not only in Chinchilla and Tara – going into police stations and establishments across the state – little kids hugging police officers … people bringing in cakes, coffee vouchers, flowers.

“When the constables’ names were etched on to the National Police Memorial, it was just another reminder that Matthew and Rachel will never be coming home.

“They were executed in cold blood,” he said.

Mr Leavers said the union planned to purchase the Train property for a training centre or police retreat to ensure “it can never fall in the hands of any evil person who wishes to carry on the legacy of that murderous trio”.

Ian Leavers (right) with Queensland Police Minister Mark Ryan and Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll. Picture: Liam Kidston

Speaking about the inquest, planned for July of 2024, Mr Leavers said he hoped it would offer some “comfort” to the Arnold and McCrow families who want “answers to their questions”.

“They want to know why,” he said.

“The pain will never ever go away but it may dissipate just that little bit.

“My job is to keep going and to provide strength and support to their families and ensure that we get changes and recommendations as we move into the future.

“That is something I owe to Matthew and Rachel.”