Nathaniel Train’s father revealed he hadn’t seen his son in 23 years before bloody ambush

The father of former school principal-turned-killer Nathaniel Train posted a sad message to his son just days before his bloody rampage.

The father of Queensland killers Nathaniel and Gareth Train recently revealed he hadn’t seen one of his sons in more than two decades, hinting at a deep family rift.

On Monday afternoon, two young police officers and an innocent neighbour were gunned down during a routine missing person inquiry at a remote Queensland property, with the brothers and Gareth Train’s wife Stacey killed in a subsequent gunfight with authorities.

Police had been visiting the address amid serious concerns for Nathaniel Train’s welfare, after the former school principal had recently been reported as missing.

Responding to a social media post about his then-missing son, Donald Train revealed the major estrangement, confirming he hadn’t seen his son in many years.

“Nathaniel is my youngest son. While we have not seen each other for 23 years, he is much loved,” the deeply religious retired pastor and religious author wrote on Facebook.

“We trust our Lord is watching over his wellbeing.”

Meanwhile, it has been revealed that Nathaniel Train’s sudden spiral from respected primary school principal to cold-blooded killer started with a heart attack that struck as he battled an exams cheating scandal.

Nathaniel, Gareth and Stacey Train were shot dead by police after executing officers Matthew Arnold, 26, and Rachel McCrow, 29, as well as his neighbour Alan Dare, 58.

The murderous Trains ambushed the officers and their two colleagues – who narrowly escaped with their lives – outside the family’s rural home in Wieambilla, three hours west of Brisbane.

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Former Yorkeys Knob State School principal Nathaniel Train was killed in the gunfight. Picture: Brendan Radke

Their motive is as yet unclear, but it has since emerged that Gareth Train was an active member of a number of conspiracy theory websites, where he posted a series of extreme comments.

However, his brother Nathaniel, 46, was well-respected in Queensland’s education sector and had a reputation for turning around struggling schools.

But a heart attack and NAPLAN cheating scandal that engulfed one of his schools saw his career abruptly come to an end.

He was principal at Innisfail East and Yorkeys Knob State Schools in Far North Queensland, and he was lauded for making the latter one of the best-performing schools in the state.

But it all came crashing down after he became executive principal of Walgett Community College Primary School in New South Wales in 2020.

One student, who may have been related to a teaching assistant, was unable to answer the first two questions on their NAPLAN test but then got all of the remaining 34 questions correct, Daily Mail Australia reported.

Nathaniel and Gareth Trains father has revealed the family's rift.

Nathaniel Train reported this to the NSW Department of Education but was said to be unhappy with the lack of action.

In August 2022, he suffered a massive heart attack at the school and was saved by teachers who rushed to his aid.

But he didn’t stop his campaign to resolve the cheating scandal, firing off 16 separate emails to the education department.

When that didn’t work, he tried to call on NSW One Nation leader Mark Latham for help.

Mr Latham told Daily Mail Australia that Nathaniel Train “was cogent” when he spoke to him.

“He knew what he was talking about and it was supported by documentation. He wasn’t ranty with me, but he was certainly bitterly disappointed with the education department.”

Nathaniel Train officially left his job in March 2022. He was last in contact with his wife in October this year, police said, but his family had not seen him in person since December 16, 2021, when he was in Dubbo. A missing persons notice was issued for him four days ago.

Four police officers attended the isolated property at 251 Wains Rd on Monday afternoon to carry out the “routine missing person inquiries” at the request of NSW Police.

In 2003, Walgett’s preschool, primary and high schools were restructured into the Walgett Community College, and in 2021, the Sydney Morning Herald reported on the serious issues within the wider campus, revealing serious staff shortages and rampant violence within the school.

Mr Latham confirmed he spoke with Mr Train earlier this year after he sent an email outlining concerns he had to the education department.

In the March 7, 2022, email, the then-school principal reportedly outlined a number of hypothetical scenarios which Train apparently believed needed to be addressed by the department.

Latham referenced Mr Train when posing a question in state parliament to Education Minister Sarah Mitchell about the state of Walgett’s school this year.

The NSW One Nation leader has now confirmed that he visited the school after Mr Train informed him he was “very unhappy” with the situation at Walgett Community College Primary School.

“Because of Nathan I went up to the school,” Mr Latham told The Daily Telegraph.

“The news this morning is a shock and a tragedy. It’s a confusing situation.”

NSW One Nation leader Mark Latham. Picture: Gaye Gerard / NCA Newswire

He said his dealings with the man had “no context at all in relation” to what happened on Monday at the Queensland property.

“All I can tell you is he left the teaching service in NSW and mid-year he was talking to me,” Latham said.

“He had a feeling of disappointment and frustration with the education department that had left him feeling bruised and drained I would say.”

Mr Train also previously served as principal of Yorkeys Knob State School, with a 2017 Cairns Post article about a school fundraiser describing him as a “mild-mannered school leader”.

In a NSW Police appeal for information on his whereabouts posted on social media just days ago, one person commented that he was their children’s ex-principal at Yorkeys Knob State School in Queensland’s far north.

“Oh no! Hope he is OK, good bloke,” another responded.

“Yeah, he was,” another agreed.

Train worked at the school as recently as 2019, when it came in at number 25 in a ranking of Queensland’s best NAPLAN results for the year, recording the best primary school results in the Far North.

At the time, Train told the Cairns Post that “supportive parents, dedicated teachers and support staff” were key to the school’s success.

Nathaniel Train also worked at Walgett Community College Primary School.

“We have a consistent delivery of teaching programs, a quality learning environment that focuses on every student being given the opportunity to be a successful learner and students that commit themselves wholeheartedly to their learning opportunities,” he told the publication.

“Our strategy continues to be for each student to strive to be the best they can be. NAPLAN is an opportunity to learn and provides all schools in Australia with point-in-time assessment. It is useful to everyone in education that is looking for continual improvement.

Four police officers were involved in a shooting on Wains Road at Wieambilla. Picture: Harry Clarke/Country Caller

“The students, parents and teachers should be proud of their ongoing success. NAPLAN is reflective of what happens every day at Yorkeys Knob State School.”

Nathaniel Train was also previously the principal of Innisfail East State School — yet another disadvantaged primary school that achieved outstanding academic results during his tenure.

Dubbo police are believed to have lodged the request for assistance with their Queensland colleagues, with insiders telling the Telegraph one of Train’s relatives was known to have an intense distrust of police.

Ronald Train, the father of Gareth and Nathaniel Train, told the Courier Mail that he was grieving the loss of his two children

“I am not going to share anything with you, you can speculate and make up as much as you want. I have lost two children,” he said.

“I have already had conversations with police.”