LANDSLIDE AT THREDBO

31 July 1997

The Governor-General (Sir William Deane) said this morning that he and Lady Deane were very distressed to learn of the appalling consequence of the landslide at Thredbo last night.

He had been in touch with the Acting Prime Minister (Mr Peter Costello) and the emergency services and was keeping abreast of the difficult rescue operation. His and Lady Deane's thoughts and prayers were not only for the victims who had been trapped in the collapsed lodges but also for their families and friends and for the personnel drawn from a wide range of emergency services who were engaged in the rescue.