How a decade-old PNG plane tragedy forged a family bond

A plane crash in Papua New Guinea a decade ago killed nine Australians, seven from Victoria. But in the wake of the tragedy their families have formed an unbreakable friendship.

Max, Danelle and Amelia Van Vliet remember their late father, Euan Comrie. Picture: Ian Currie. Picture: Ian Currie

Max Van Vliet walks like his dad; talks like him too.

But he has little memory of him.

Max was just three years old when his father died in a Papua New Guinea plane crash that claimed the lives of nine Australians, seven from Victoria.

But the 13-year-old’s “swagger” is an unmistakeable reminder of the late Euan Comrie.

“I’m glad to know that even though I don’t really remember him, if I look in the mirror I can somewhat see him,” Max said.

Euan Comrie with his kids before the 2009 plane crash that killed all on board.

The Comrie characteristics run through Max’s sisters too.

Sixteen-year-old Danelle and 11-year-old Amelia both perform in local theatre just like their dad, and the teenager inherited his passion for the environment.

The trio spoke publicly for the first time, alongside their mum Annemieke Van Vliet, a decade after the crash.

“I miss him,” Amelia said.

“I really wish he was there on my birthdays and I wish he was there when I’m doing an activity at school.

“You need your dad there. Without your dad, or without your mum or your sister, it’s not a complete family.”

Rescue workers at the site of the crash.

Euan Comrie, his wife Annemieke Van Vliet and kids in a picture taken about a week before the crash. Picture: Ian Currie

Most of what the kids know about their dad, a health services worker from Morwell, they’ve learnt through those who love him.

He was kind, generous, an adventure seeker.

He was forthright too. Everyone was entitled to Euan’s opinion.

On August 11, 2009, the 42-year-old was en route from Port Moresby to Kokoda with his cousin to trek the 96km track in honour of their veteran grandfather.

Hazelwood North dairy farmer Max Cranwell, 67, and his daughter, mother-of-two Leanne Harris, were also on the plane.

They had known Mr Comrie and his family for years, having even lent him a cot for baby Max.

Max Cranwell and his daughter Leanne Harris, 38. Picture: Supplied

A candid photo retrieved from Mr Comrie’s camera after the crash showed him and Mr Cranwell seated together on the doomed plane before takeoff.

Cloud blanketed the Kokoda Gap — a notorious valley between two mountains — that day and the weather bureau had warned of rain and thunderstorms.

The bad conditions had forced an earlier flight to return the PNG capital, before it was able to land safely at Kokoda on a second attempt.

The Australians’ Twin Otter aircraft left Port Moresby at 10.52am, due to land at the Kokoda Airstrip 28 minutes later.

Also on board were a Victorian firefighter, two friends, a Maroochydore sports doctor, a Queensland father, a Japanese tourist, a local guide and two pilots.

Max Cranwell and Euan Comrie on the plane before it crashed.

At 11.11am, the crew radioed a nearby aircraft to report that they were descending through the Gap and were told: “Just be careful”.

But minutes later the plane slammed into “inhospitable” jungle.

The families of those on board were notified that the plane was missing, but endured a torturous, near two-day wait for the wreckage to be found and for authorities to confirm that there were no survivors.

“We cooked and cooked and cooked,” Phyllis Cranwell said, remembering the sleepless hours spent waiting for news of her husband and daughter.

“We must have exhausted ourselves cooking, that was all we could think to do.”

Nothing could prepare someone for such tragedy — described as “everyone’s worst nightmare,” by then PM Kevin Rudd — or the media storm that followed.

But having somebody who understood the grief made it easier.

The plane crashed into heavy jungle on the side of a mountain.

Mrs Cranwell and Ms Van Vliet, holding hands while speaking to the Sunday Herald Sun earlier this month, forged a strong bond in the wake of the tragedy.

Eight months after the crash, their families gathered on the Cranwells’ farm for a cathartic bonfire to burn the keepsakes they couldn’t bear to give away.

They have cried together, laughed together, spent Christmases together, and gathered again this month for a barbecue to mark the tenth anniversary of the crash.

They reminisced, and Danelle, Max and Amelia spread out old photos and newspaper clippings that covered the tragedy.

“It was a good day,” Danelle said.

“It was nice to see people and talk about what had happened but not in the negative.

“It was all positive. I got to talk about dad, and hear other people talk about him, not because he wasn’t there but because they enjoyed the time they had with him.”

Phyllis Cranwell with Euan Comrie’s kids, Amelia, Max and Danelle. Picture: Ian Currie

On that Sunday, and in the decade since the crash, both families have chosen to celebrate.

Celebrating has helped them cope because there is no such thing as closure.

“Closure for what?,” Mrs Cranwell said.

“I’m not closing off my husband or my daughter. I’m not closing off Euan.

“It’s about coping.”

Ms Van Vliet trekked the Kokoda Track on the first anniversary of the accident — a difficult task, but one she found paled in comparison to being a single mum.

“For us, it wasn’t hard,” she said.

“No disrespect to those footy players who bawl their eyes out but I’ve always said that raising three kids on my own was 10 times harder than walking the Kokoda Track.”

Max and Phyllis Cranwell.

Ms Van Vliet credits a big team, including Mrs Cranwell, for helping her do it and is clearly proud of the three kids who speak eloquently about how much they love their dad.

Ms Cranwell is proud of them too. After all, she has “known them since they were tiny”.

“Annemieke is just terrific,” Ms Cranwell said.

“She has done an amazing job and they really are good kids.”

Danelle, a school captain, is eyeing a career as an environmental engineer, keen to deliver sustainable and safe drinking water to communities currently without it.

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Amelia loves acting but wants to find something that is hers alone, not a family tradition.

She might become a teacher.

And basketball-mad Max dreams of being drafted as a point guard to the big bucks NBA.

With a cheeky grin, he assures: “Don’t worry, Phyllis, I’ll look after you.”

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@moniquehore