Neal Joseph Durack

TRAGEDY AT ORD RIVER. MR. NEAL DURACK DROWNED. News was received in Perth yesterday of the death through drowning of Mr. Neal Durack, son of Mrs. J. J. Durack, and brother of Mrs. Leslie Brockman and Mr. J. P. Durack, solicitor, of Messrs. Dwyer, Durack, and Dunphy. Only scanty information concerning the tragedy is as yet available. Telegrams have been received by Mr. J. P. Durack from his brother, Mr. Frank Durack, of Wynd-ham, and by Messrs. Connor, Doherty, and Durack from their Wyndham manager, the latter wire stating: "Neal Durack drowned Ord River, Ivanhoe crossing, fifty miles from Wyndham; body not recovered." It is surmised that Mr. Neal Durack was on his way into Wyndham from Auvergne sta-tion, situated in the Victoria River district, Northern Territory, for one purpose of bid-ding good-bye to his wife, who was in Wyndham awaiting the arrival of the s.s. Kwinana from Fremantle. Weather re-ports indicate over four inches of rain at Turkey Creek since Friday. Heavier rains, it is thought, must have fallen further in-land and higher up on the Ord River to produce floods so early in the year. When in flood the Ord River runs rapidly and is a quarter of a mile wide from outer bank to outer bank. Mr. Neal Durack held a lieutenancy in the 10th Light Horse, where he served with his brother during the war. He was a fine horseman, bushman, athlete, and swimmer, and did excellent scout and intelligence work in Egypt and Palestine, where he was wounded in an engagement with Turkish forces. A fearless and heroic soldier, his manly character and lovable disposition endeared him to all who knew him. He was only 30 years old. Wide sympathy is felt for the deceased's relatives in their loss.

1920 'TRAGEDY AT ORD RIVER.', The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), 30 November, p. 6. , viewed 16 Jul 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article27792630