Two young Welsh women among 15 who perished in backpacker hostel arson that will never be forgotten
Two young Welsh women among 15 who perished in backpacker hostel arson that will never be forgotten
Natalie Morris and Sarah Williams died in the blaze started by killer Robert Long at the Palace Backpackers Hostel in Australia 25 years ago
Natalie Morris, 28, from Merthyr Tydfil and Sarah Williams, 23, from Cefn Coed, died in the backpackers hostel fire
A quarter of a century has passed since a loner set light to the Palace backpackers' hostel in Australia in a shocking act that led to the deaths of 15 people. Memorial events are being held to mark the 25th anniversary of the deadly blaze in the small Queensland town of Childers on June 23 2000.
The horrific tragedy left survivors in trauma, local people deeply shocked and the bereaved devastated.
For the families of Natalie Morris, 28, from Merthyr Tydfil and Sarah Williams, 23, from Cefn Coed, who lost their lives that night, it was a personal tragedy with the added pain that the young women perished halfway across the globe, far from loved ones, on what should have been the trip of a lifetime.
Natalie and Sarah were among seven travellers from Britain, along with three from the Netherlands, three Australians, one from Japan and a South Korean who died in their beds that night after a deranged killer torched the building.
Sign up for our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here.
Escape from the deadly blaze was hampered by an exit blocked with furniture and barred windows. In 2006 an inquest into the deaths revealed that emergency exits at the hostel had been obstructed by bunk beds, doors and windows were nailed closed or barred, fire alarms weren't operational and, with 80 guests inside on the night of the fire, the premises was overcrowded.
Article continues below
Kelly Symonds from Aberfan, a former school friend who'd travelled to Australia with Natalie and Sarah, managed to escape the inferno at the near-century-old converted pub. In the midst of the horror a fellow guest managed to squeeze her through the barred window of the room in which they were sleeping.
Natalie Morris
Robert Long, a loner who had previously been evicted from the building lit the fire deliberately that night. After being kicked out of the hostel he set fire to it in the early hours of June 23 2000. In 2002 the drifter and fruit picker was sentenced to life in prison for murder and 15 years for arson.
Quarter of a century on the community of Childers, 180-miles north of Brisbane, has never been forgotten. The community is gathering with survivors and the bereaved this weekend to remember those whose lives were cut short.
After the fire many survivors were temporarily housed locally at the Isis Cultural Centre, where some of the memorial events will take place.
The Palace Backpackers Hostel in Childers, Australia, is demolished, Wednesday, Feb 13, 2002, 18 months after 15 backpackers were killed in a fire at the hostel.
(Image: AP )
Memorials, led by Bundaberg Regional Council will run between June 21 and 23 and include a memorial vigil at the Sacred Heart Church in the town followed by a performance project called "The Palace" at the Isis Cultural Centre. There will be two public performances of "The Palace" on Saturday, June 21 followed by a private, invitation-only performance on Monday, June 23rd, the anniversary of the fire.
The Childers Arts Space in the Palace Memorial Building, will also be open for quiet reflection throughout the weekend but will be closed to the public on June 23rd for the private memorial. Inside the space is The Palace Backpackers Memorial, a memorial wall by Sam Di Mauro containing 15 memory boxes, each dedicated to one of the victims, and a portrait Taking a Break in the Field by Josonia Palaitis. Visitors will be able to leave messages of remembrance for the victims, their families, and survivors.
Many in the town still remember that night. Residents knitted blankets and donated food and backpacks for survivors, many of whom had lost everything in the fire. Local people cooked for survivors and local businesses helped with food, clothing, and other items they needed. Princess Anne visited a few weeks after the blaze to meet the surviving backpackers and others involved in the aftermath.
When he was jailed Long, then 37, was told he could not apply for parole for 20 years. In 2020 his application for freedom caused outrage and opposition, including from Natalie's grieving father Ken Morris. Long was denied parole that year but applied again for a second time earlier this summer.
Australian media has reported that the president of the Queensland Parole Board will now consider whether to limit Long's ability to apply for parole through a restricted prisoner declaration.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported a statement from Queensland Corrective Services saying: "The parole application is not being considered while the restricted prisoner matter is determined by the president."
A decision on the declaration will be made after victims have been given time to make submissions. When Long previously applied for bail survivors mounted a petition and said he should never be freed.
In 2020 Dutch survvor of the blaze Rob Jansen launched an internet petition calling for Long's parole application to be denied forever.
"We, the survivors of the blaze, are trying to reach the attention of the Parole Board Queensland, to convince them that Robert Paul Long should remain behind bars and serve time for the rest of his life," he said.
Killer Robert Long
(Image: AP )
A year after the fire that stole their daughters Natalie's parents, Ken and Yvonne Morris and Sarah's parents Ryland and Margaret Williams attended the opening of the memorial in Childers in 2001. Yvonne has since passed away and Kens spoke about his disgust at Long's bid for parole in 2020.
Speaking in 2013 Sarah's mother said: "'We just have to try to get on with our lives and we are struggling. We loved them so much."
Ken Morris expressed what no parent ever wants to go through: "We are broken hearted."
It is this pain that the comunity of Childers knows it can never erase, but hopes to ease with memorial events this weekend.
Article continues below
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wales Online
4 hours ago
- Wales Online
Two young Welsh women among 15 who perished in backpacker hostel arson that will never be forgotten
Two young Welsh women among 15 who perished in backpacker hostel arson that will never be forgotten Natalie Morris and Sarah Williams died in the blaze started by killer Robert Long at the Palace Backpackers Hostel in Australia 25 years ago Natalie Morris, 28, from Merthyr Tydfil and Sarah Williams, 23, from Cefn Coed, died in the backpackers hostel fire A quarter of a century has passed since a loner set light to the Palace backpackers' hostel in Australia in a shocking act that led to the deaths of 15 people. Memorial events are being held to mark the 25th anniversary of the deadly blaze in the small Queensland town of Childers on June 23 2000. The horrific tragedy left survivors in trauma, local people deeply shocked and the bereaved devastated. For the families of Natalie Morris, 28, from Merthyr Tydfil and Sarah Williams, 23, from Cefn Coed, who lost their lives that night, it was a personal tragedy with the added pain that the young women perished halfway across the globe, far from loved ones, on what should have been the trip of a lifetime. Natalie and Sarah were among seven travellers from Britain, along with three from the Netherlands, three Australians, one from Japan and a South Korean who died in their beds that night after a deranged killer torched the building. Sign up for our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here. Escape from the deadly blaze was hampered by an exit blocked with furniture and barred windows. In 2006 an inquest into the deaths revealed that emergency exits at the hostel had been obstructed by bunk beds, doors and windows were nailed closed or barred, fire alarms weren't operational and, with 80 guests inside on the night of the fire, the premises was overcrowded. Article continues below Kelly Symonds from Aberfan, a former school friend who'd travelled to Australia with Natalie and Sarah, managed to escape the inferno at the near-century-old converted pub. In the midst of the horror a fellow guest managed to squeeze her through the barred window of the room in which they were sleeping. Natalie Morris Robert Long, a loner who had previously been evicted from the building lit the fire deliberately that night. After being kicked out of the hostel he set fire to it in the early hours of June 23 2000. In 2002 the drifter and fruit picker was sentenced to life in prison for murder and 15 years for arson. Quarter of a century on the community of Childers, 180-miles north of Brisbane, has never been forgotten. The community is gathering with survivors and the bereaved this weekend to remember those whose lives were cut short. After the fire many survivors were temporarily housed locally at the Isis Cultural Centre, where some of the memorial events will take place. The Palace Backpackers Hostel in Childers, Australia, is demolished, Wednesday, Feb 13, 2002, 18 months after 15 backpackers were killed in a fire at the hostel. (Image: AP ) Memorials, led by Bundaberg Regional Council will run between June 21 and 23 and include a memorial vigil at the Sacred Heart Church in the town followed by a performance project called "The Palace" at the Isis Cultural Centre. There will be two public performances of "The Palace" on Saturday, June 21 followed by a private, invitation-only performance on Monday, June 23rd, the anniversary of the fire. The Childers Arts Space in the Palace Memorial Building, will also be open for quiet reflection throughout the weekend but will be closed to the public on June 23rd for the private memorial. Inside the space is The Palace Backpackers Memorial, a memorial wall by Sam Di Mauro containing 15 memory boxes, each dedicated to one of the victims, and a portrait Taking a Break in the Field by Josonia Palaitis. Visitors will be able to leave messages of remembrance for the victims, their families, and survivors. Many in the town still remember that night. Residents knitted blankets and donated food and backpacks for survivors, many of whom had lost everything in the fire. Local people cooked for survivors and local businesses helped with food, clothing, and other items they needed. Princess Anne visited a few weeks after the blaze to meet the surviving backpackers and others involved in the aftermath. When he was jailed Long, then 37, was told he could not apply for parole for 20 years. In 2020 his application for freedom caused outrage and opposition, including from Natalie's grieving father Ken Morris. Long was denied parole that year but applied again for a second time earlier this summer. Australian media has reported that the president of the Queensland Parole Board will now consider whether to limit Long's ability to apply for parole through a restricted prisoner declaration. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported a statement from Queensland Corrective Services saying: "The parole application is not being considered while the restricted prisoner matter is determined by the president." A decision on the declaration will be made after victims have been given time to make submissions. When Long previously applied for bail survivors mounted a petition and said he should never be freed. In 2020 Dutch survvor of the blaze Rob Jansen launched an internet petition calling for Long's parole application to be denied forever. "We, the survivors of the blaze, are trying to reach the attention of the Parole Board Queensland, to convince them that Robert Paul Long should remain behind bars and serve time for the rest of his life," he said. Killer Robert Long (Image: AP ) A year after the fire that stole their daughters Natalie's parents, Ken and Yvonne Morris and Sarah's parents Ryland and Margaret Williams attended the opening of the memorial in Childers in 2001. Yvonne has since passed away and Kens spoke about his disgust at Long's bid for parole in 2020. Speaking in 2013 Sarah's mother said: "'We just have to try to get on with our lives and we are struggling. We loved them so much." Ken Morris expressed what no parent ever wants to go through: "We are broken hearted." It is this pain that the comunity of Childers knows it can never erase, but hopes to ease with memorial events this weekend. Article continues below
Wales Online
4 hours ago
- Wales Online
'I got up at 4.29am, like I'm doing something illicit, and now there is no going back'
'I got up at 4.29am, like I'm doing something illicit, and now there is no going back' My legs tingle with the chill of the sea at daybreak. Then I plunge in as my body buzzes with the endorphins of a cold water dip Abbie Wightwick swimming at Penarth beach with Dawnstalkers as the run rises (Image: James Richardson ) It's so early even the cat hasn't woken and the room is dark when my alarm goes off at 4am. The street is silent as I slip outside in the pre-dawn glow. Walking quickly down the hill it feels as if I'm doing something illicit while everyone else is sleeping. I am stealing time while the world is snoozing to swim in the sea at daybreak. I've always been a swimmer and love the beach, but am no fan of very early mornings or cold water. As it turns out, perhaps I am. I'm pumped on adrenaline like I'm off to catch an early morning holiday flight, but when I get there the shore is calm and still. Down on the pebbles a handful of people are exchanging cheerful good mornings. This is the moment when I'll have to introduce myself as a newbie and get into the chilly waves when I could be snuggled down under my duvet. There's no going back. What happens next is a warm embrace from the lovely people known as Dawnstalkers. Sign up for our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here. Article continues below This is the group who swim off Penarth beach every morning as the sunrises, come rain or shine. They've been meeting for nearly five years since the pandemic. Within minutes I'm welcomed and chatting with an eclectic, smiling bunch of people as we wade into the sea. They point to the red orb magically appearing on the skyline as my legs tingle with the chill of the water. And then I've plunged in, my body acclimatising to the temperature and thrill of a dawn dip. This is great. Dawnstalkers welcome the sun on Penarth Beach (Image: James Richardson ) Bobbing in the water is Grant Zehetmayr. It was his lone daily dawn swims when Covid lockdowns eased that inspired what is now Dawnstalkers. It wasn't intentional and is an achievement that happened organically when passers-by saw and joined him. Now hundreds of people are part of the movement with a core group of around 10 meeting every morning. People swimming through the year with Dawnstalkers range in age from children to those in their eighties. They include retired people, students and people heading off to work afterwards. There's even a splinter group, Moon Mermaids, that swims at night when there's a new moon. "It was 2020 and I found lockdown difficult," recalls Grant, "I was missing something and searching for something. There was no structure in the week any more. I started getting in the sea and then I added it to dry January in 2021. I didn't set out to create a swimming group or club. I just got into the sea and people were interested and joined me." Splashing in the waves at dawn (Image: James Richardson ) Grant was drinking too much at the time and felt disconnected. Few people, if any, swam off Penarth beach pre-Covid, let alone at dawn through the winter. His early morning sessions were unusual and soon noticed. As the number joining him grew Grant began posting about it on social media. Now his social life has swapped ends of the day - he meets friends early and with the sea as an ice breaker rather than alcohol. The name Dawnstalkers came from a joke made by Grant's wife Beth who is at home asleep with their daughter Lola. 'A dopamine hit' After swimming Grant will go back and then on to work in his graphic and design business Signs Express at Cardiff Bay. Like most of the dawn swimmers he goes to bed very early in mid-summer as the sun rises just before 5am. "If you socialise at dawn you don't feel the need to drink alcohol. Dawn swimming was a substitute addiction, but I didn't realise that and it wasn't meant to be subversive," says Grant. "Most people wouldn't get in the sea year round. I like pushing boundaries and became interested in the health benefits of cold water swimming later. I did not set out to create a group but it is a real privilege. Cold water swimming is addictive and you do get a dopamine hit from it." Grant Zehetmayr's daily dawn swim during the first lockdown in 2020 encouraged others to join him and the community that is now the Dawnstalkers grew (Image: James Richardson ) Cold water swimming has gained popularity in recent years with lots of discussion about the health and wellbeing benefits, but for Dawnstalkers it is as much about the friendships that have grown up around their daily gathering. With no official membership anyone can come down, join them and swim. Some swimmers like to chat and go in as a group while others prefer a nod and hello and to be in the water solo. There are no rules and no expectations. As I float on my back in the waves watching the sky turn from grey to orange-blue I swear I can feel endorphins flood through. It feels great, but I have to keep moving. It may be June but it's not long past 5am and this is Wales, not the Caribbean. Back on land people tell me how this has literally changed their lives. All say it's more than swimming, that Dawnstalkers is a community of friends and support, that they have found the links they were seeking and their mental health has improved. Sarah-Jane Hocking moved from Lancashire to Penarth to swim with the group after seeing photos of Dawnstalkers on social media. In September she's marrying James Richardson who takes the pictures every morning and posts them to his Instagram. 'I got hooked' Working from home for a textile company meant Sarah-Jane could relocate to Wales: "Dawnstalkers has given me my purpose. I have found me," she says, "I have found friends and my partner. It's the best decision I ever made and all because someone up north sent me a Facebook post from Dawnstalkers." Sarah-Jane Hocking moved from Lancashire to Penarth to swim with the Dawnstalkers four years ago. (Image: James Richardson ) For James, who comes from Penarth and has known this stretch of coast all this life, the joy is its ever changing nature. The 39-year-old professional photographer loves the sunrise, the sea and the swimmers and has a book of his images coming out later this year. "I came down for a coffee and remembered hearing so much joy coming from the people swimming," he says, "The community is incredible. I really enjoy taking photographs here because the light at dawn is always different and always surprises me. I thought it would be a flash in the pan but it wasn't." Facing east Penarth beach catches the sunrise and of course the sun moves from one side to the other as the year changes. The extreme tides also mean the swimmers meet on one or other side of the pier, so every swim is unique to record. George Menzies, a retired marine engineer from Sully, and his wife Alison, a retired civil servant, have been swimming five days a week with the Dawnstalkers for more than two years. They joined, never meaning to stay but got hooked. "We came thinking it would be a one-off," admits Alison, "something to tick off a list of things to do, but we came back. It's the community that is so lovely. "It makes me feel healthier and there is something very therapeutic about cold water swimming and the community around it. It's a very special and unique group." "It's a really nice group of people," agrees George, "It's the swimming and the social side for me. It's a great way to start the day and it's not always howling a gale, but when the sea is rough it's a different experience. We come five days a week rain or shine. It's really beautiful." It's one thing doing this in June, but wading into a grey sea while the rain beats down or picking through frozen seaweed on the shore in midwinter doesn't sound as much fun. The swimmers explain you get used to it and part of the joy is that every day is different. Sometimes hats and gloves are needed, sometimes not. The colours of dawn over the sea at Penarth are always different depending on the weather and time of year (Image: James Richardson ) John Winser joined Dawnstalkers on New Year's Day 2023 and says the sea here never gets much below 6C. Early starts with his job as restaurant retail supervisor at the University Hospital of Wales means he can't come in the week but he swims at dawn most weekends. "When it's cold you do think "what am I doing?," the 54 year-old admits, "but soon you get a buzz and serotonin. It's addictive and I miss it if I don't go. There's never any pressure and no one judges you in the group. You can be yourself. 'Feel a connection' "I started because I had been through a bit of trauma and saw Dawnstalkers as social. I came down because I needed something. It's been brilliant mentally and physically and the community is brilliant. It's also a spiritual experience when you lie in the sea and look up at the sky and the sun rising. "It's also different at different times of the year, When there are big storms and waves the energy is phenomenal, but we always swim safely." Coffee at daybreak. Piotr Skoczylas (centre) at his mobile coffee shop Stol Coffee with John Winser (left) and James Richardson (right) (Image: Abbie Wightwick/WalesOnline ) Of course you can't have early mornings without coffee. Piotr Skoczylas had just lost his job in a coffee shop because of the pandemic when he spotted Dawnstalkers in 2021. He comes each morning with his mobile coffee shop Stol Coffee and its menu including cookies and free hugs. Piotr is an essential part of the group and his bright yellow coffee cart is a well known early morning fixture on the seafront now. Like the swimmers Piotr, who is also a life coach, loves the daybreak and feels a connection to the sea, the people and the moment. As the year turns and the midsummer solstice arrives hundreds of people are expected to gather with the Dawnstalkers to welcome in the longest day of the year at Penarth beach on June 21. It is perhaps the highest profile swim of the year for the group and draws in swimmers not just from Penarth and beyond but from outside Wales too. Article continues below The dawn solstice swim will be followed by a silent disco on the beach and no doubt people will be bringing picnic breakfast and buying coffee from Piotr. It will be a community event for all ages as the sun starts its journey back around the globe again and new connections are forged. When he began swimming off Penarth beach Grant did it alone. Now no one has to swim alone there.
Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
'I went to the 'end of the world' where time grinds to a near halt'
Striking the right balance between relaxation and exploration can prove a challenge on any trip. The temptation when on the clock in a new place is to rush around ticking off sights, often resulting in blurred memories and fatigue. My visit to the Bernese Oberland in Switzerland taught me a lesson in how to really take in my surroundings and resist the urge to press on with a hurried stride. Take time to smell the roses, or in my case, the cheeses. This awakening experience began in the picturesque village of Adelboden, an idyllic chalet village 4,430ft above sea level, with blooming alpine meadows and crystal-clear lakes. Home to only 3,500 inhabitants, versatile Adelboden comes alive during winter with tourists swooping in for its mountain sports on its dream pistes and World Cup race in January. It actually became the destination for the first winter sports package holiday, organised by tourism pioneer Sir Henry Lunn in 1902. In the warmer months, it's ideal for those wanting to gaze at the scenery at their own pace while traversing its walking trails, mountain bike routes, cable cars, or swimming in the lakes. The village's standout hotel was acquired by Welsh brothers Craig and Grant Maunder in 2009 and renamed The Cambrian – a subtle nod to their home country (Cambria translates as Wales in Latin). This stunning, four-star superior hotel, rebuilt in the Belle Epoque style in the 20th century, is the perfect place to unwind, offering a swanky spa with pool, Finnish sauna, steam bath and outdoor infinity pool, which comes with breathtaking views of the Swiss Alps. At the hotel's Bryn Williams restaurant, named after the chef who hails from North Wales, diners can enjoy dishes created with Swiss and Welsh influences. From here, take a short bus journey to nearby mountain village Elsigen where you can ride the gondola to reach an alpine cheese farm hidden away in the peaks. Welcomed into the home of the Germann's, father-and-on duo Adolf and Peter offered expert insight into their longstanding family tradition of cheesemaking. After explaining the process of producing cheeses including Alpkase, Mutschli, Raclette and Ziger, which are heated at temperatures ranging from 36-90C, I was able to sit down and sample the freshly made blocks. They were full of flavour, thanks to added extras such as garlic and chilli. It is not only food production keeping this area ticking nicely over, however, with the natural wonders of the lakes and mountains serving as a major pull. With the sun beating down, I grabbed the chance to take a dip in the crystal-clear water of the Brandsee Lake and could not resist the inflatable slide invitingly positioned only several strokes away. It's a short drive to Engstilgenalp where you can jump on a cable car and head above the second tallest waterfall in Switzerland, 1,969ft Engstilgenalp Falls. A trip to the neighbouring town of Gstaad was next on the agenda. Famed for its old-world elegance, which has attracted the likes of Princess Diana and Madonna to the region, I enjoyed a taste of the finer things, checking in at the new Mansard Boutique Hotel. Located centrally, The Mansard boasts the only rooftop bar in Gstaad and was a hit among locals, who were drinking in the views with a few glasses of wine. Equally as impressive was the food in the ground floor restaurant. I opted for the starter special of mushroom pasta, followed by a main of sole with parsley butter, spinach and mashed potatoes. Finishing on a sweet note, a glass of vanilla ice cream with strawberries and Maraschino liqueur rounded off a memorable meal. The following morning in Gstaad, I got to experience a great annual celebration, which is loved by tourists and began to pour into the town during the early hours of the morning, creating an instant buzz. This was the start of the Zuglete, the procession of cattle from the mountains to the heart of the town. A tradition kept for centuries to signify the return of the herds and herdsmen to the valley, thousands of people line the streets of Gstaad for a glimpse of cows, dressed in colourful floral headdresses, and goats that continually serve the area. Such a day presents a lucrative opportunity for local businesses. One woman I met had spent 30 years on the Landfrauen Saanenland selling items ranging from cheese to marmalade. 'I will not get rich with what I'm doing,' she insisted. 'I do this out of passion, for the community, because being together is not about having an income, it's out of love.' Aside from the heightened sense of drama created by the Zuglete, Gstaad's relaxation-related motto of 'Comeup, slow down' can't be argued with. But those seeking a total escape should head to the tiny village of Ablandschen – situated on the edge of the Bernese Oberland and the Freiburg Alps, 4,265ft above sea level. Known locally as Detox Valley and home to only 32 inhabitants, here you can pay a visit to the smallest church in Switzerland and dine at the inviting Berghotel zur Sau. 'Welcome to the end of the world' is the message from owners of the cosy establishment to prospective guests, who can try a range of Swiss dishes. Mushrooms and potatoes that accompanied my main dish of pork were grown just around the corner while the starter salad was made up of handpicked ingredients. A bottle of the sparkling Blanc de Noirs – a Swiss spin on Champagne due to its mirrored production process – was the perfect accompaniment. My trip ended by catching the state-of-the-art GoldenPass Express train from Gstaad to Montreux – an 80-minute journey offering panoramic views of the Swiss Alps and valleys plus Lac Leman (Lake Geneva). This route is included in the Swiss Travel Pass (see information box above right) and seated in prestige class – elevated in terms of height in the carriage and service – I tried out my heated leather seat, capable of rotating 180 degrees, before enjoying a cheese board and coffee. Gazing out the window as I glided through this breathtaking scenery, I was offered one final reminder of how avoiding well-trodden paths, going out of the main season and taking in the sights at your own pace makes travel so much more satisfying.
