Queensland marks one year anniversary of Robert Brown’s death with the loss of another innocent life

There are echoes of Robert Brown’s death in the Redbank Plains tragedy to befall Vyleen White, leaving some to ask are we doing enough to battle youth crime?

Fond memories of Robert Brown remain top of mind for his mates 12 months on from his tragic death.

Robert’s wide, infectious smile, his kind and unassuming nature and his spry enthusiasm when discussing latest photos were some of the things that fellow snapper Tryg Helander misses most.

“Robert was a gentle giant,” he said about the late 75-year-old.

“We often talk about the robbery that claimed his life, we still have his photos and we are still fighting his loss.”

This coming Tuesday will mark one year since Robert’s family made the heart-wrenching decision to turn his life support off after he suffered a catastrophic head injury while waiting for a taxi in front of Grand Central Shopping Centre on February 6, 2023.

Police allege Isaac Zane Cubby pushed Robert from behind, causing him to fall and hit his head on the bitumen.

Toowoomba man Robert Brown has died a week after he was allegedly set upon by four teenagers in the Toowoomba CBD on February 6. Picture: Toowoomba Photographic Society

They further allege Mr Cubby then stole Robert’s backpack as he lay motionless on the ground.

Robert would hold on to life for another week while his family from New South Wales rushed to be by his side.

Meanwhile the assault sent shockwaves through the Toowoomba community with many asking how such a violent event could occur outside our largest shopping centre and in broad daylight.

His death prompted the Chronicle to launch its youth crime campaign Enough is Enough which called for greater action to prevent young people from slipping into a life of crime, and for more support for their victims.

In the weeks and months that followed, the Queensland Government poured resources onto our city which included deploying a specialist team of Youth Justice case workers and police to intensively case manage youth offenders and their families.

The strategy appears to be working.

In the six months from July to December 2023 police recorded 198 bail breaches for teen offenders, catching them before they could cause too much damage.

Toowoomba Photographic Society life member Tryg Helander remembers his friend and fellow life member Robert Brown who was killed at a Grand Central taxi rank. Picture: Kevin Farmer

At the same time, the number of property crime offences committed by teens dropped to 1129, down from 1648 when compared to the previous year.

Robberies and assaults were also down, from 267 in 2022 to 193 in 2023.

An extra $1 million will be spent on the Toowoomba PCYC to fund outreach programs, while Project Booyah is set to take its first class in the coming weeks.

The program uses adventure based learning, leadership skills, decision making, problem solving exercises, resilience training, policing strategies and family inclusive principles to help young people who have dropped out of school and education.

While the Queensland Government has responded and police are acting, the recent death of Vyleen White, almost 12 months to the day after the attack on Robert Brown’s, has given the community cause for concern.

Vyleen White was stabbed to death at a suburban shopping centre. Picture: Supplied

The 70-year-old grandmother was stabbed at Town Square Redbank Plains Shopping Centre on February 4, allegedly by a 16-year-old boy who stole her car.

Queensland Police Service Commissioner Katarina Carroll has called for the use of QPS trackers to be revisited saying they are a ‘very powerful tool’ for monitoring young offenders.

“I do think electronic monitoring devices do need to be re-looked at,” Ms Carroll said.

“We spend an extraordinary amount of time checking on youth offenders that are on bail.

“And that is only a point in time – whereas electronic monitoring devices are constant.

It was welcome news to Mr Helander

“Nothing much has really happened in the past 12 months,” he said.

“We have changed Premiers, but not the statistics,” he said.