Bushfires, Will Hodgman’s resignation, Strahan whale stranding all made news in 2020
From a respected Premier’s resignation, to a gold mine tragedy and a freak shark attack, here are Tasmania’s top, non-coronavirus related stories from 2020. READ OUR YEAR IN REVIEW >>
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- Sad revelation about dead pilot whales from mass stranding
- Tasmania’s 45th Premier resigns after six years in office
IN a year like no other, it feels like everything revolved around the global COVID-19 pandemic.
The following is a list of major Tasmanian news stories from 2020 not related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
BUSHFIRES
Before COVID-19 came to Australian shores, bushfires and climate change dominated the news as an unprecedented bushfire disaster that swept across parts of New South Wales and Victoria.
The smoke cloud from the ferocious fires in December and January travelled across the globe, and also impacted on Tasmania.
Parts of the state recorded poor air quality as the smoke spread south.
Over 17 million hectares of land were burned, 33 people died and over a billion animals were killed.
GOODBYE HODGMAN, HELLO GUTWEIN
In mid-January, Premier Will Hodgman surprised all but his inner circle by abruptly resigning from the Liberal leadership and calling time on his 18 year career in state parliament.
Mr Hodgman said he had reached his decision to leave politics over the Christmas break — picking the middle of the parliamentary term as the ideal time to give a new leader time to settle in.
That new leader turned out to be Treasurer Peter Gutwein, who was elected unopposed by the Liberal party room after challenger Michael Ferguson pulled out of the race.
Mr Hodgman has since moved on not only from politics but from Tasmania, being recently announced as Australia’s new High Commissioner for Singapore.
MINING TRAGEDY
Tragedy struck on the West Coast when miner Cameron Goss died in a rock fall at the Henty Gold Mine.
The 44-year-old Queenstown father was reported missing on January 23 by co-workers after they could not make contact with him.
It took a specialist team 26 days to recover Mr Goss’ body.
West Coast Mayor Phil Vickers said the incident brought back the memories of previous fatalities in the region’s mines.
The rockfall at the mine was Henty’s biggest emergency incident in its 23-year history.
COLD CASE CHARGES
An 11-year investigation into the death Shane Geoffrey Barker ended with his ex-wife’s parents being charged with murder.
The Campbell Town man was found dead with gunshot wounds just over a decade ago.
In May Swansea couple Cedric Harper Jordan, 68, and Noelene June Jordan, 65, were charged with murder over Mr Barker’s death.
Both have pleaded not guilty.
In 2016, a nine-month review by a new serious and organised crime squad opened up fresh leads in the case — and offered a $250,000 reward.
SHARK PULLS BOY FROM BOAT
On July 17 a hero dad saved his son from an extraordinary shark attack in deep waters off Stanley.
In what was described as a “freak event” by experienced local fishermen, 10-year-old Lucas Arnott was ripped from a six-metre boat by a large shark.
The shark swam away when Lucas’ father, John Arnott of Latrobe, leapt into the water to save his son.
The boy was rushed to hospital with head, chest and arm wounds.
Mr Arnott, a former footballer at Latrobe and Wesley Vale football clubs who carried the nickname “Biscuit”, was praised for his bravery.
CSIRO analysis of Lucas’ life jacket found he was likely attacked by a white shark around 3.7 metres in length.
WHALE STRANDING
In September the biggest mass whale stranding in Australian history occurred when 470 long finned pilot whales became beached at Strahan.
A massive rescue and recovery operation was carried out, with 111 whales saved.
The whales, mostly mothers and calves, became stranded on sandbars at Macquarie Harbour.
Dozens of volunteers took part in the rescue mission.
Material was collected to assess the whales’ internal injuries, which may provide insights into the cause of the stranding.
BACK IN THE BIG LEAGUE
Tasmanian sports fans got some good news in July with the state officially welcomed back into the National Basketball League.
Under the deal between the state government and NBL owner Larry Kestelman, the Derwent Entertainment Centre will undergo a publicly funded $68.5 million redevelopment.
Tasmania’s new team the JackJumpers will re-enter the league in 2021-22.
It will be the first time Tasmania has been in the NBL since the demise of the Devils 25 years ago.
Mr Kestelman’s company, the LK Group, plans to redevelop the Wilkinsons Point area around the DEC into a shopping, hotel and restaurant precinct.
SEX ABUSE PROBE
In November Premer Peter Gutwein responded to mounting pressure over revelations of sexual abuse in state government institutions by announcing a Commission of Inquiry.
The inquiry – the first to be held in Tasmania in 20 years – will begin in the new year and report within 12 months.
The inquiry will replace three already announced: into allegations of abuse in the Health Department, the Education Department and the Ashley Youth Detention Centre.
There have been nine public servants stood down or investigated in recent months over allegations of sexual misconduct involving young people.
TEDDY’S VC
In December war hero Teddy Sheean was awarded the Victoria Cross for his extraordinary bravery in World War II.
The honour came 78 years after the 18-year-old Tasmanian strapped himself to a gun aboard the HMAS Armidale to shoot down enemy planes, sacrificing his life to save his mates.
Sheean’s family ran decades-long campaign for his bravery to be officially recognised.
State Veterans’ Affairs Minister Guy Barnett was a strong supporter of the family’s fight for Sheean to be awarded the nation’s top military honour.
Sheean was 101st Australian to be awarded a Victoria Cross since 1900 and the 15th Tasmanian.
RIGHT TO DIE LAWS
Tasmanians suffering from a terminal illness will have the right to choose to end their life after legislation passed a key vote in state parliament in December.
After passing the Legislative Council, a voluntary assisted dying Bill from independent Mersey MLC Mike Gaffney received support from a majority of Lower House MPs.
House of Assembly members voted 17-7 in favour of the Bill after an emotional second-reading debate. A final vote is expected in March.
Tasmania is now expected to become the third state – after Victoria and Western Australia – to allow voluntary assisted dying.
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