Former Family Court judge Richard Gee found dead in Belrose pool
FORMER Family Court judge Richard Gee, whose family survived an arson attack in the 1980s, is being remembered as a “wonderful individual and judge” after the 83-year-old was found dead in the pool at his Belrose home.
NSW
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FORMER Family Court judge Richard Gee has died after being found unconscious in the backyard pool of his northern beaches home.
Paramedics were called to the property at Belrose about 10pm last night but 83-year-old Richard Gee could not be revived, and was pounced dead at the scene.
Mr Gee’s Belrose home was the target of an arson attack in 1984 where the then-judge and his family were inside asleep.
They survived, but the home was completely destroyed.
Police said they would investigate the circumstances surrounding the drowning and prepare a report for the coroner.
Police confirmed Mr Gee’s death was not being treated as suspicious.
Reverend Michael Aitken, from St Stephen’s Anglican Church, said Mr Gee and his late wife Helen were “very active” members of their congregation.
“Richard was a preacher in the church over the years and involved in bible studies and a very faithful member,” he said.
“His wife Helen as well ... she died recently so it has been sad to lose them both.”
Mr Aitken said Mr Gee was “always a judge” and “a very kind, gracious, polite man”.
“He loved Jesus, he read the bible in church as part of our service only a couple of weeks ago,” he said.
“Even though he’s old and frail, he would stand there and he would read with authority. We loved him for that.”
Mr Aitken said Mr Gee would be missed in the community, especially by his two children Alison and Steven.
He said Mr Gee rarely talked about the bombing incident from the 80s.
“It kept coming up as more investigations came up over the years. It’s part of local folklore really,” Mr Aitken said.
“He didn’t speak much about it. He was just a matter-of-fact sort of man.
“It happened in the past — he didn’t glory in it at all.”
The judges of the Family Court of Australia released a statement saying they were “saddened to hear of the sudden passing” of Mr Gee.
“Justice Gee served the court predominantly at the Parramatta registry from 1980 to 1998,” Chief Justice of the Family Court of Australia, Diana Bryant, said.
“He will be remembered as a wonderful individual and judge who provided inspirational service to the court and to the community.
“His exemplary dedication and commitment to the court was demonstrated by his brave decision to return to work following the horrific bombing of his family home in 1984 and to continue to serve the court and the community for another fourteen years until his retirement.”
Mr Gee’s next-door neighbour described him as “a quiet man”.
“He was a nice man — very quiet,” the neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said.
“We said hello and that’s about it. My wife offered if he needed anything ... she drove him to the doctor’s about six months ago.”
The neighbour said Mr Gee used to do his groceries nearby and walked home with his shopping bags.
“He seemed self-sufficient. A nurse came by sometimes.”
Another neighbour up the road said she believed Mr Gee’s daughter found him in the pool yesterday.
“I heard that she was screeching. It’s so sad.”
FORMER JUDGE HAD SURVIVED BOMBING ATTACK
The attack on Mr Gee’s Belrose home in 1984 was part of a series of alleged bombings and murders directed at the Family Court between 1980 and 1985, targeting judges, a lawyer, their families and members of the community.
The man accused, Leonard John Warwick, is to stand trial in February on more than 30 charges including four counts of murder.
Early on March 6, a bomb exploded at Justice Gee’s home. The judge and his daughter Alison, then 12, and son Richard, then 15, narrowly escaped death.
Alison Gee told the Daily Telegraph in 2015 that she clearly remembers waking up in the early hours of the morning as the bomb went off.
“It sounded like a loud clap of thunder and when I looked across the room there was glass and debris everywhere. I went into shock,” she said.
Her 15-year-old brother Steven was in the next bedroom and called for her to join him and head towards the back of the house.
Drowning deaths over the holidays now at 18
HOLIDAY TOLL CONTINUES TO RISE
MR Gee’s death follows a horror holiday period, where 18 people across NSW have died in backyard pools and waterways.
The growing toll has prompted authorities to warn the public to be careful around water.
Premier Mike Baird is facing demands for a hard-hitting advertising campaign to halt the unprecedented number of drowning deaths and injuries over the holiday season.
This grew worse yesterday as two-year-old Henry Tran was fighting for his life in hospital last night after relatives discovered him motionless in the pond at a property in Fairfield.
The tragedy occurred less than 24 hours after Vera Peacock, 2, drowned in a pool at Macquarie Fields in Sydney’s southwest.
A total of 18 people have drowned in NSW since Christmas Day, prompting calls for an urgent campaign to give families a stark reminder about water safety.
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