Rod Patterson speaks on Victoria Police compensation fight after 2018 Bourke Street attack

Rod Patterson’s life was changed forever after the Bourke Street attack. Years on and his fight for compensation has failed, but he maintains Victoria Police had a duty of care.

Rodney Patterson helped apprehend the assailant in the Bourke St attack in 2018. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Survivor Rod Patterson says he’s not the person he was after the 2018 Bourke Street attack.

“I didn’t go to bed for three months, I sat on the couch and waited to pass out. Every time I shut my eyes I saw myself being stabbed,” he told the Mercury.

Nearly six years on from the attack where he was stabbed in the head by a terrorist, he says it’s his family which has kept him going.

“My wife is my hero, I would not be alive if it was not for her,” Mr Patterson said.

“She carries her own trauma but she also carries mine and I don’t know how she does it.”

Rodney and Maree Patterson at The Alfred. Courtesy/supplied by Patterson family.

Things are very different for Mr Patterson and his wife, and the impacts of the attack have been long lasting.

After attending every day of the coronial inquest into the tragedy, Mr Patterson chose to take legal action against Victoria Police, which he said failed in its duty of care.

“Once we were there it was clearly evident that this should never have occurred,” he said.

“There were numerous opportunities and reasons why this person should have been in police custody, there were five warrants out for his arrest, they didn’t ask ASIO for his address, they found out his address and decided to arrest him eight days later.

“The eighth day was the 10 of November, this occurred on the 9th of November.

“He was apprehended for a driving offence in October and he was given roadside bail because they were not aware there were warrants out for his arrest.”

Proceedings have now wrapped up and a judge ruled in favour of Victoria Police.

“The general force are absolutely magnificent but the organisation itself failed us that day,” Mr Patterson said.

“The judge determined Victoria Police have not got a duty of care to the public.

“To learn lessons you must admit mistakes and Victoria Police did not.”

Rodney Patterson. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

Parties have the option of appealing, but Mr Patterson said it was unlikely he would.

“I think it’s all over,’ he said.

“They’ve given us a length of time to appeal, we’re not sure we can find someone to support us on a no win no fee basis.

“We’re not in a financial situation to be able to pay for that legal defence.”

Mr Patterson is well known in the Launceston community for running a successful business, Autobahn, for 21 years.

But when he tried to return to work after the attack, he said he simply wasn’t in the right headspace.

“I couldn’t concentrate, I couldn’t handle stress or pressure. Things I would have comfortably done on a daily basis, I just couldn’t do,” he said.

Rodney Patterson. Photo: Naomi Jellicoe

“I put my hands in the air and said I couldn’t do it. I didn’t have my finger on the pulse.”

His business went under after it was owed hundreds of thousands by Multi-Res Builders, which collapsed.

“Our business couldn’t recover, we went in cash poor, not organised as well as we should have been,” Mr Patterson said.

“After a successful 21 years with Autobahn it was the worst decision I’ve ever made because I wasn’t in the mental headspace to be able to do it.

“We built this beautiful home in Launceston, it took years to build that and now we’ve lost that home, which has devastated us.

“We’re embarrassed to be in Launceston now after the business I was involved with.

He and his wife have now moved to Torquay to be closer to family.

“We left and we’re in Torquay renting, not knowing what we’ll be doing. It’s been a devastating six years from that point of view,” he said.

“We had built a great life, ready for retirement because we hadn’t been greedy along that journey.”

Earlier this month, Mr Patterson received a bravery medal for his actions during the attack.

“I feel humbled someone nominated me,” he said.

“I wish this incident never occurred but it has.

“All through this experience I’ve consistently shared that it’s okay to be angry, it’s okay to be sad but it’s not okay to hate because hate is what’s done this.’

Victoria Police was contacted for comment.