4 November 2009

Trying to find out information on a shooting in Canberra

| dr phil
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Does any one know what happened in Canberra outside the old cinema in the 1960’s or 1970’s.

What I have so far from an old guy that said this happend was.

A man with a high powered weapon opened fire so police shoot at him and his 4×4. Then the old guy telling me the story says and the rest is history and no one talks of it.

BUT! no recorded news of the incident. Did any one die, was the gunmen a local. I have searched high and low with no luck but maybe someone on the riot act may know.

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I blame the factory chickens. He must have been a sensitive soul driven mad by having to keep chickens in tiny cages. (Apologies to anyone directly affected by the tragedy, but when there’s the chance of a cheap joke, nothing is sacred).

Pete

How strange to have that article in a flower shop website. Are they trying to sell flowers to guys who plan to do this kind of thing?

The following article from the Sydney Morning Herald details the Jolimont siege. Publication date December 1st 1993

http://www.sendingflowers.com.au/sending-flowers-articles/1993/12/1/siege-man-sent-note-flowers/

Do you people not listen. Jolimont was 1993

Take it from someone who was there in a professional capacity who has already clarified it for you

A Noisy Noise Annoys An Oyster said :

The gunman in East Row happened on Australia Day 1985.

If you look at the photo I linked, it is dated 25th Jan 1985, but close enough to Australia Day.

lobster said :

Wow. I never realised how many gun men there have been in that area.

Well it is quite a good spot, very central at the time. If i was to go on a rampage i would certainly consider what Civic has to offer as it has a wide range and now has more targets (Emos). Just think, folk could use the Chesspit for (gasp!!) Chess!

****************NEWS FLASH*******************

We are reporting breaking news today. It seems that an unemployed pets paradise shop worker went on a tranquilizer rampage at the Canberra Centre today, randomly shooting his tranquilizer gun at staff and visitors leaving many brutally sedated retail patrons in his wake.

“It was kind of horrible,” said Maria Christopher, 44, who witnessed the tranquilizing spree. “People were gently falling asleep over the course of 20 to 30 seconds everywhere.”

The spree ended when unemployed pets paradise shop worker turned his gun on himself, knocking himself out for half an hour a Police spokesman later stated.

Deadmandrinking12:02 pm 05 Nov 09

I promise you that jolimont wasn’t 1988, I think Caf’s right. 1993 would make sense.

Wow. I never realised how many gun men there have been in that area.

A Noisy Noise Annoys An Oyster said :

The gunman in East Row happened on Australia Day 1985. He holed himself up in a gun shop on the top floor and took the staff of the shop hostage and fired shots out the window. There was another gunman in Northbourne opposite Jolimont in May 1988 a day or so before the opening of New Parliament House. The Canberra Times had been running a series of feature articles on mental health in Canberra over the previous few days and when I saw them I expected something like this might happen. The fire and shootout happened in Jolimont in 1993. 2CA and FM104.7 had their studios on the first floor and they were trapped in there during it – both stations went off-air and played emergency tapes. The two breakfast announcers at 2CA (which included Greg Robson) broke the window of the studio and were winched out onto Northbourne by the firies. Both stations had to relocate to emergency facilities provided by the ABC while Jolimont was restored – FM104.7 appealed to the public to loan CDs which could be played.

Was his name Bill?

Australia Day 1985. thats the one. thanks you.

A Noisy Noise Annoys An Oyster6:46 am 05 Nov 09

The gunman in East Row happened on Australia Day 1985. He holed himself up in a gun shop on the top floor and took the staff of the shop hostage and fired shots out the window. There was another gunman in Northbourne opposite Jolimont in May 1988 a day or so before the opening of New Parliament House. The Canberra Times had been running a series of feature articles on mental health in Canberra over the previous few days and when I saw them I expected something like this might happen. The fire and shootout happened in Jolimont in 1993. 2CA and FM104.7 had their studios on the first floor and they were trapped in there during it – both stations went off-air and played emergency tapes. The two breakfast announcers at 2CA (which included Greg Robson) broke the window of the studio and were winched out onto Northbourne by the firies. Both stations had to relocate to emergency facilities provided by the ABC while Jolimont was restored – FM104.7 appealed to the public to loan CDs which could be played.

The gunman at Jolimont was after his girlfriend who worked in the building. The building was under siege and a radio station that was located there were still broadcasting. The gunman had been followed by police from dickson pool. Jolimont was still in the same place.

dvaey said :

Ronnie said :

Yes there was a gunman in East Row somewhere. I’ve seen a photo in the NLA archives in which there’s a police car parked in the middle of the bus interchange.

I presume you mean this photo? (ahh, the memories…)

From the linked RiotACT post above.. The seige in Civic was when a guy went upstairs in the bus interchange… above what is Macchiato now, and held the cops at bay for quite a while. Early 80s, from memory. I think there was a men’s barber up there then.

still a better car then a police prius!!!!!!

Thumper: Nah that was definitely ’93 as TAD said in the other thread, I was on my way to school that morning.

Deadmandrinking7:56 pm 04 Nov 09

There was a guy who crashed a four wheel drive into the old jolimont centre in the 80s.

I think he was armed but i can’t remember the outcome.

It was definitely the 90’s.

Jolimont happened in 1993. I was there

East Row bullets flying was in the mid to late 80s

Ronnie said :

Yes there was a gunman in East Row somewhere. I’ve seen a photo in the NLA archives in which there’s a police car parked in the middle of the bus interchange.

I presume you mean this photo? (ahh, the memories…)

From the linked RiotACT post above.. The seige in Civic was when a guy went upstairs in the bus interchange… above what is Macchiato now, and held the cops at bay for quite a while. Early 80s, from memory. I think there was a men’s barber up there then.

anonymous gungahlian6:47 pm 04 Nov 09

Where was the “Old” Jolimont Centre?

Yes there was a gunman in East Row somewhere. I’ve seen a photo in the NLA archives in which there’s a police car parked in the middle of the bus interchange. I can’t recall where the gunman was hiding but some time ago a chap told me that he was on the roof of the Sydney Building at the London Cct end (opposite Tosolini’s). Not sure if this is accurate but I was also under the impression that it was during the day.

Deadmandrinking5:44 pm 04 Nov 09

If you’re referring to the one at the Jolimont (I think), that was definitely in the 90’s, because I know I was in primary school then, and that I had a step-mum, as she saw the cops going in (parents divorced in 89, think she came around ’90)

Try This RiotACT article, in particular comments around #7 and onwards.

Go down to the National Library and look at the microfilm of the Canberra Times following 06.05.1988.

It’s all pre google so that’s the only public place you can find what you are after.

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