Families face another Christmas without loved ones as they plea for change over ‘failures’ in Wieambilla shooting
The families of two Queensland police officers violently murdered in a horrific attack in Wieambilla have spoken of their heartache at facing another Christmas without their loved ones.
Now, on the two-year anniversary of their deaths, the families of Arnold and McCrow are continuing their quest for change.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“Today, family and friends will be at Rachel’s grave site telling her how much she enriched our lives, how much we love her and how deeply she’s missed,” a statement from the McCrow family read.
“Rachel’s unexpected, violent and preventable death has left us with deep emotional wounds.”
Constables Arnold and McCrow were wounded and then fatally shot at close range within 10 minutes of entering a Wieambilla property for a welfare check on a missing person.
Neighbour Alan Dare, 58, was also fatally shot while trying to investigate loud bangs and smoke coming from the property.
“There will never come a day, hour, minute or second we will stop thinking about Rachel,” the McCrow family said.
“It’s a pain we’ll suffer for a lifetime.
“Rachel was a beautiful, compassionate soul, who displayed incredible bravery under murderous direct gunfire and, as the so-called festive season looms, we will continue to tell her that she was the greatest gift we ever received.”
The three suspects in the shooting, Gareth Daniel Train, 47, Nathaniel Charles Train, 46, and Stacey Jane Train, 45, lit fires in an attempt to flush out a female officer, Constables Keely Brough, who escaped being shot.
Another male officer, Constables Randall Kirk, escaped but was shot multiple times.
The Trains are believed to have carried out the heinous attack as a Christian extremist act of terrorism.
They were eventually shot and killed after opening fire on specialist police during an hours long stand-off.
“Today marks two years since the senseless and evil murder of our beloved son and brother, Matthew,” a statement from the Arnold family read.
“December is especially hard. Not only because of the pain of this day, but also because Christmas, once a time of joy, now carries an unbearable weight of absence and sorrow.”
Arnold’s devastated family said he was one shift away from his Christmas leave when he was killed and was excited to be travelling home to see his family.
“For Matt, Christmas wasn’t just about the day — it was about spending time with family and friends,” they said.
“Even in 2021, when he worked through the holidays, he finished an early morning shift on Christmas Day, drove over four hours to his aunt’s house to surprise his Mum, then turned around and drove straight back to Tara for his next shift after lunch.”
A coronial inquest into the attack was launched last year, however, delays have prevented the final report from being released.
“We live with this pain every moment of every day. It never fades, it never eases. The inquest only reminded us of the graphic and unimaginable nature of their deaths and the systemic failings that allowed this tragedy to happen,” the Arnold family said.
Rachel McCrow’s family used the anniversary of her death to call on the government and the Queensland Police Service to prioritise the implementation of drones to help police scout properties, satellite communications for officers in remote areas, a national weapons database and better training.
“How many other police must put their lives in danger because of failures to provide a safe workplace?” they said.
Originally published on 7NEWS
