Cairns Hospital marks 30 years since the ‘terrible tragedy’ that killed two of its staff members

For the husband of one of two radiographers shot and killed at Cairns hospital, the “unnecessary tragedy” feels like yesterday. But on Sunday it will be 30 years since his wife was murdered at work.

Cairns radiographer Lynette Muller and her husband Peter. Lynette and another colleague were murdered at the hospital 20 years ago by a medical student who failed an exam.

For the husband of one of two radiographers shot and killed at Cairns hospital, the “unnecessary tragedy” feels like yesterday.

But on Sunday it will be 30 years since Lynette ‘Lyn’ Muller and Jack Carter were murdered by radiography student Gregory Keith Prince, who then turned the gun on himself, in what the hospital describes as its darkest day in history.

“The ramifications of that fateful day still flow through my family, the hospital staff then and now, and the friends of those two dedicated workers who came to work that day to serve the community and who did not return to their families and loved ones,” Peter Muller, Lyn’s husband of 25 years, said.

Cairns Base Hospital in 1995. Picture: File

On Thursday, Ms Muller’s family, hospital staff and community members gathered at a new memorial in honour of the victims.

It features a vibrant mural with colourful scenes of the Far North Queensland landscape, an accompanying garden and water fountain.

The mural was illustrated by Daniel Wallwork, who was approached by Ms Muller’s family after her daughter Jacqueline noticed his work at a local swimming pool.

Mr Muller said the mural was “a very fitting memorial” to Lyn and Jack’s memory. Picture: Brian Cassey

Mr Muller said the artwork was fitting; giving people pause for thought near the Medical Imaging department his wife worked in.

“Lyn and Jack will be well remembered here,” he said.

Mr Wallwork said it was an honour to create the mural.

“I’m a local here, so I remember when it happened as a small child in grade five,” Mr Wallwork said.

“While working here, so many people asked about it and either remembered or were enlightened about it.

“So it was really quite an honour to help tell that story and to help that memory be preserved.”

In the aftermath of his wife’s killing, Mr Muller became an advocate for gun control and a volunteer for the Queensland Homicide Victims’ Support Group. Picture: Brian Cassey

Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service chief executive Leena Singh said the hospital would never forget the tragedy.

“We’re really wanting to make sure that we embodied the spirit of the lives that left us, but also to ensure that tranquillity of others going forward,” Ms Singh said of the memorial.

“There’s still a lot of people here who were here at the time, who were witnesses to the events and the aftermath. So it’s about making sure that people can speak about that, and get through those feelings and be able to reflect.

“But also it (the memorial) is an important place for our staff to be able to come and seek some solace.

“We all have really busy lives sometimes that can get really stressful, and we wanted to ensure that we could create a beautiful, inspiring place for the staff to be able to sit down just take 10 minutes of their time … to contemplate and think about the world, eat their lunch, read their books.”

Mr Muller and Mr Carter’s partner Terry Barrie outside the Cairns Base Hospital on June 12, 1996. Picture: File

Ms Singh said the anniversary of the tragedy was an opportunity for the hospital to reflect on how it has progressed with mental health support since.

“It is about making sure people are aware there is a lot of help out there. It wasn’t really around 30 years ago, but now, mental health is no longer a taboo subject.

“We’re able to ensure those that are in a dark place have avenues to go to, to seek help, if they require.”

Ms Singh said the memorial will ensure “people beyond us will remember (the event) as well”. Picture: Brian Cassey

She said she hoped the memorial could also function as a reminder of the support available.

“We’re wanting to make sure that people take that time out (at the memorial) when things are going a little bit hard for them, and to realise that not everything is darkness, and that they … can seek some help when they need to seek help.”

Ms Singh added: “I hope (the memorial) embodies Lynette, her personality and it’s what she would’ve wanted. I hope we’ve done it justice.”

Originally published as Cairns Hospital marks 30 years since the ‘terrible tragedy’ that killed two of its staff members