Inquest opens into disappearance of WCC engineer

A one-day inquest hearing has been held into the disappearance of former WCC engineer Barry Collins more than 30 years ago. Image: Shutterstock.

 

Carol Altmann – The Terrier

I have just learned that an inquest opened today into the disappearance of Barry Collins, a former executive of the Warrnambool City Council, who went missing 30 years ago. This is big news.

Mr Collins, an engineer, disappeared after being accused of a misappropriation of council resources and funds. I remember this terrible story, as I was a wide-eyed cadet at the Warrnambool Standard at the time.

Mr Collins’ disappearance sent shockwaves through Warrnambool. It was terrible.

There has never been a full explanation as to what happened, or the full back story to the allegations. His family, no doubt, have continued to seek those answers.

Now, 30 years after this tragedy, an inquest has opened in the Coroner’s Court in Melbourne, before Coroner Paresa Spanos.

I will follow this up tomorrow, but for tonight, I am just putting this on the public record and hope that it may finally lead to some answers for Mr Collins’ family and for the wider community.

Update: The ABC’s Matt Neal has written a comprehensive piece on this case, which is set to officially clear Mr Collins of any wrongdoing. You can read Matt’s story here. 



Gas leak chokes two giant Norfolk pines

Two large Norfolk pines in Nicholson St have been severely damaged by a gas leak, with a 30 per chance of recovery.

Carol Altmann – The Terrier

Tidbit: A few weeks ago a reader contacted The Terrier about two Norfolk pines in Nicholson St, near the corner of Harper St, saying they feared the trees may have been poisoned. This reader also contacted the W’bool City Council.

The WCC has since investigated and found there was a gas leak that was basically asphyxiating the trees.

The leak has now been fixed, but the trees, according to the WCC arborist, have only a 30 per cent chance of survival.

The council will keep an eye on the trees until the end of Spring to see if they recover.

I am really grateful to the reader for alerting the WCC.

As readers of this page know, I am a tree-hugging, greenie, leftie, plover-lover of our natural environment, heritage and history, so I am hoping the 30 per cent chance is enough.