2023 in review: Taking a look back at headline-making stories in Geraldton & Mid West between July and Sept

In part three of our Year in Review series, we go back to the busy three-month period between July and September last year, which had everything from a murder mystery, memorable sporting triumphs and the start of the longest-awaited demolition in the city’s history. HERITAGE LAWS DEBACLE The cancellation of a tree planting ceremony in Geraldton at the last minute highlighted the confusion surrounding WA’s new Aboriginal cultural heritage laws. A storm of controversy forced the Cook Government in its most embarrassing backflip yet in early August when it vowed to repeal the controversial news laws, which took place later in the year. 18-HOUR SHIFT It was revealed an anonymous nurse had worked an 18-hour shift at Geraldton Regional Hospital in a general ward at some point between February 23 and March 3, with just half an hour break. The incident came after Fiona Stanley Hospital intensive care unit nurses pulled a 24-hour shift on May 17 due to “exceptionally high numbers of very sick admissions and unplanned staff sick leave”. KENNEDY’S COMEBACK Josh Kennedy played his first game since AFL retirement, donning the green and gold guernsey of his childhood club, the Northampton Rams. The game was played alongside fellow West Coast premiership alumni Mark LeCras. It was the pair’s first time on the field together since the 2018 AFL grand final and they helped the Rams to a win, in what was a curtain-raiser for the WAFL game between East Fremantle and Peel Thunder. VALE TO A STATESMAN Geraldton’s longest serving mayor Phil Cooper died at the age of 95 in July. Mr Cooper served a total of 13 years as mayor, during which he accompanied Queen Elizabeth II on her tour of the newly proclaimed city. Mr Cooper’s commitment to local government rubbed off on his son Steve, who was elected to the City of Greater Geraldton council in 2021 and was sworn in by his father. MAIDEN FLIGHT Geraldton’s aviation landscape shifted when Nexus Airlines took to the skies for its inaugural flights departing from Geraldton Airport, adding competition to the local market. The airline’s first-ever flight took off from Geraldton Airport in July 10, destined for Karratha, with the Perth route opened the following week. It is the first new regional airline in WA in two decades. MIRACLE BOY In August, The Geraldton Guardian caught up with Geraldton’s “miracle boy” Brenten Comeagain, who just months earlier had been close to death after being run over and dragged along a Geraldton street. The then-three-year-old defied the odds with his remarkable recovery. The following month police charged a 47-year-old man over the alleged hit-and-run, also accusing him of being high on drugs behind the wheel. FIRE FRIGHT Geraldton man Anthony John Kruger is accused of walking into the Department of Communities’ Housing Office building on Marine Terrace on August 3 with a jerry can of fuel, which he splashed on the front counter and set alight. The man inflicted a damage bill of about $400,000. Staff in the office were uninjured and no members of the public were present. Mr Kruger has pleaded guilty but is yet to be sentenced. LET’S GO BUCCS It’s just the third time in the club’s 34-year history that the Buccs claimed the ultimate honour. It was a nail-biting come-from-behind game, but the Buccs prevailed over the Joondalup Wolves 86-80 in the NBL1 West grand final. It was a salve, or as some would say revenge, to the heart-breaking loss in the 2022 championship decider. HOT DAMN A bold, multi-million-dollar proposal for a Mid West eco-resort was unveiled, including dozens of hot springs and cabins scattered along coastal bushland between Geraldton and Dongara. Melbourne-based developer Richard Zee bought the 142ha property a few years ago, but in August revealed his vision for the area in Bookara, 30 minutes south of Geraldton. DRUG BUST A massive cocaine bust took place in Kalbarri in August, which saw police seize more than half a tonne of the drug. Three men from Queensland were charged, with authorities alleging they were part of a transnational syndicate importing drugs into WA by sea. It is alleged two of the men, in a vessel, collected the plastic-wrapped cocaine, which had been dropped from a bulk carrier. The drugs — 560kg in total with an estimated street value of $224 million — were recovered during a raid of a Kalbarri property. PLAYGROUND PAIN A family outing to Geraldton’s foreshore ended in Geraldton boy Jaeger Verryt losing a toe while playing on a piece of play equipment on August 12. Young Jaeger’s right pinky toe got caught in the gap of a merry-go-round and was severed when the equipment rotated. Waiting 10 hours to be flown to Perth by Royal Flying Doctors Service, doctors were unable to reattach the digit. Jaeger’s mother called for public playgrounds to be made safer, the City of Greater Geraldton removed the merry-go-round and WorkSafe launched an investigation. GNFL GRAND FINAL 2023’s Great Northern Football League’s premiership decider will be remembered for two reasons. Firstly, Northampton breaking their 19-year premiership drought with help from a couple of retired AFL champions in Harry Taylor and Josh Kennedy. Secondly, the way the game ended. In dramatic fashion, Railways thought they had won by one point because of a scoreboard error and when the game was sent into extra-time the Rams proved too strong. MAYORAL RACE When the deadline closed in September, last-minute contenders to challenge incumbent mayor Shane Van Styn revealed themselves — and they were a colourful, interesting bunch. The biggest competition came from deputy mayor Jerry Clune (who would ultimately emerge victorious). But campaigns from anti-vaccine mandate protester Aaron Horsman and Mr Van Styn’s ex-fiancee Tammy Croasdale would prove to be pivotal in an election result decided narrowly on preferences. D-DAY FINALLY ARRIVES It was a day many people in the community did not believe would actually happen. In late September demolition of the derelict Batavia Motor Inne finally began. But after waiting for years, the demolition process did not run completely smoothly or without drama. Demolition only lasted for a mere week before it came to a halt for a 10-week break and asbestos had to be removed. The site is now mostly piles of rubble, with only one building yet to be torn down. CERVANTES ALLEGED MURDER It started out as a bizarre mystery: a burnt out car, a body found inside, another car driven into the water and a naked man found acting erratically on a vessel. The events which occurred in and near Cervantes in late September led police to charge 19-year-old Benjamin Jack McLaughlin with murdering 38-year-old John Matta. It’s alleged Mr Matta had stopped to help Mr McLaughlin after he crashed his car.