Mourners farewell Lynette Taylor at private funeral
Heartbroken friends and family of Lynette Taylor have remembered the fallen police officer as a “hero” following her tragic death, while her devastated colleagues joined together for an unprecedented minute’s silence.
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The rain started right on cue just after 2pm. Slow at first, the deluge hardened as a lone piper played Amazing Grace.
By the time the hearse of Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor crept to the gate of the police academy in Glen Waverley, and a police airwing chopper passed overhead, it was hailing.
Ms Taylor’s funeral shouldn’t have been like this — even the heavens timed their protest.
The event’s muted elegance conflicted with the community’s shock.
Where were the countless mourners to represent the groundswell of grief after Ms Taylor and three other officers were killed on the Eastern Freeway on April 22?
A proper farewell, with full police honours, is planned for the officers once coronavirus restrictions are lifted.
On Thurday, Sen-Constable Taylor was instead remembered with solitary gestures.
Such as the woman who silently turned up at the spill of tributes at Gate 3 of the academy during the service. She added a yellow posie before kneeling to pray.
Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton was among those at the police academy chapel to honour a person who challenged unfairness and defended those in need.
Deputy Commissioner Shane Patton, Police Minister Lisa Neville and Police Association Secretary Wayne Gatt honoured Ms Taylor, 60, at the Airlie Convention Centre, a former police training college, in South Yarra.
Each laid a wreath of blue and white flowers, thanking Ms Taylor for her sacrifice, while deputy commissioners Rick Nugent and Wendy Steendam saluted a flag flown at half-mast.
Ms Neville thanked the public for its love and compassion, while Mr Gatt described Ms Taylor as a “hero”.
Mr Patton worked with Ms Taylor for three years and said she had a “gorgeous and vibrant” personality.
He said she always helped junior officers to tackle the rigours of the job.
“She wasn’t waiting for her police career to start living,” said Mr Patton.
“She loved exploring and she looked after everyone she cared for.
“She went to work like anyone else. She was doing routine activities but didn’t come home and we have to live with that tragedy.
“We as a police family are hurting but are gratified from the support from the public, as is Lynette’s family,” Mr Patton said.
Ms Taylor’s funeral preceded services on Friday for Constable Glen Humphris and Senior Constable Kevin King at the academy.
Constable Josh Prestney will be farewelled on Monday at Kew’s Xavier College, where he graduated in 2009.
In a mark of sorrow, the Police Academy will be lit in blue from 6pm to 10pm daily until Monday.
Flags will be flown at half-mast. The campus fencing danced with blue ribbons yesterday.
Meanwhile, deputy ALP leader Richard Marles suggested another kind of tribute — a minute’s silence at the resumption of the AFL season.
He said the show of support would thank those who had helped Victoria negotiate such an “extraordinary year”.
Ms Taylor and her husband Stuart Schulze travelled the globe together and built a yacht to sail the South Pacific. They loved to travel and fish.
Parents to Nathan and Alexander, they had planned to build a dream retirement home on Victoria’s southeast coast.
Confusion and horror still surrounds events leading up to the deaths. Richard Pusey drove a Porsche that officers pulled over before a truck, driven by Mohinder Singh, crashed into the officers in the freeway’s emergency lane.
Mr Pusey was at the side of the road to urinate at the moment of the crash. Audio recordings of his response to the crash have appalled Victorians, leading to his being remanded in protective custody.
Mr Pusey and Mr Singh have been charged with numerous driving-related offences.
Paying tribute to 31 years of service was paramount on Thursday. A police hat sat on Ms Taylor’s casket, covered in an Australian flag.
As her hearse headed down View Mount Rd, Mr Ashton invited all police officers on the roads to pull over, turn on their headlights, and observe a minute’s silence.
“We will remember,” he said. At about the same time, the rain abruptly stopped, to be replaced by an emerging sun above the academy chapel. It stayed shining, too.
In a mark of respect and sorrow, the Police Academy will be lit blue from 6pm-10pm every night between now and Monday.
Flags will also be flown at half-mast.
The four officers were killed after a semi-trailer ploughed into them on the Eastern Freeway last Wednesday.
On Wednesday a GoFundMe campaign for police-hating Porsche driver Richard Pusey was quickly deactivated after raising a measly $65.
The “Richard Pusey Prison Support Fund” claimed to raise funds for him to buy “goodies from the prison canteen” after he was remanded in jail on charges including driving at a dangerous speed, reckless conduct endangering life, failing to render assistance, drug possession and destruction of evidence.
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