Originally published April 30, 1996
THE Red Cliffs community was trying to come to grips with the deaths of two long-standing residents, killed by a lone gunman in modern Australia’s most horrific massacre.
Among the 35 who were caught in the line of fire in Tasmania’s south west were Red Cliffs businessman Dennis Lever and retired horticulturist Ron Jary, who were both visiting the area with their wives.
Word spread like wildfire through the town just hours after the bloody carnage began in the convict settlement of Port Arthur.
The town was in mourning for the two popular men , while grieving family members were flown to the popular tourist destination to console their wives.
Friends and family told how the foursome, who travelled together, were so much looking forward to their holiday — only the second the Levers had taken in more than 15 years because of their Red Cliffs business interests.
Mr Lever had a strong association with the township and, as one resident said, one of his great loves was the town itself.
Another long-standing Red Cliffs resident, Mary Chandler said the town would never forget the tragedy which took the lives of Messrs Lever and Jary.
“Everyone in Red Cliffs is in shock,” Ms Chandler said.
“I have spoken to people on the streets who have cried their eyes out right there on the footpath.
“I think everyone is in shock … the whole town is in mourning,” he said.
The gunman was seen chatting calmly to tourists before he began his rampage.
Hundreds of visitors were enjoying the tranquil setting of the former convict settlement, now Tasmania’s top tourist attraction.
The man with the blond, surfie look spoke to sightseers as he stood outside the Broad Arrow Cafe at 1.30pm.
“He said, ‘there’s a lot of WASPs (White Anglo-Saxon Protestants) around today, there’s not many Japs here, are there?’ and then began muttering to himself,” said one witness.
“Then he walked inside and that’s when all the gunshots started going off.”
The gunman started shooting “many, many” people indiscriminately, including children, staff, locals and tourists.
Twenty people, including Mr Lever and Mr Jary, died in the cafe.
Emerging from the restaurant, the killer turned his high-powered rifle on tourists cowered inside a nearby cottage, not knowing if it was safe to emerge.
More died at the toll booth at the entrance to the historic site, where a woman and her two daughters aged three and six were shot dead.
The gunman commandeered another car after killing its four occupants and drove north to the Fox and Hounds holiday resort.
One woman was shot dead and a man taken hostage by the gunman, who then drove to the Seascape guest house where he held police at bay overnight.
Volleys of shots rang out through the night as the gunman fired at police surrounding the building.
At 8am yesterday, smoke began to emerge from the guesthouse.
Within half an hour the gunman followed, his clothes on fire, and he was captured by police.
“He didn’t give himself up — he came out because the house was on fire,” said a police spokesman.
A trust fund established to honour the two Red Cliffs men killed in the massacre put $100,000 back into the Red Cliffs community through various projects, including school scholarships, Big Lizzie restoration works and a new defibrillator for the golf club.* The gunman, Martin Bryant, pleaded guilty and was given 35 life sentences without the possibility of parole.
