Children, families and pioneering health experts among those whose lives were brutally cut short

• 1 day ago July 19, 2014 1:16AM

How Will the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 Crash Be Investigated?

THE world was their playground; three little explorers who toured the globe with a skip in their step and adventure­ in their hearts. 

From the cobbled streets of Dubrovnik­ to the sultry air of Penang, Mo, Evie and Otis Maslin crammed a lifetime of cultural experience into their tender years, bouncing from one exotic family holiday to the next.
But the Perth siblings would never return from their latest European escapade­ — their blissful little lives stripped away by evil.

Plane crash victims. L-R Mo, Otis and Evie Norris Source: Supplied

 

Doting grandfather Nick Norris. Source: Facebook

 

After a few weeks together in the warmth of a European summer, the trio were farewelled by their parents Rin Norris and Anthony Maslin as their grandfather Nick Norris, who was returning from a stint working in London, brought them back to Perth to return to school.

It was a kind gesture from a devoted grandfather but one resulting in unimaginable horror — their Malaysia Airlines 777-200 was shot out of the sky above war-torn Ukraine.

“They were the most incredible kids.

“We will miss them so terribly. We are all just in stunned disbelief,” their uncle Brack Norris said yesterday.

Evie, Otis and Mo Norris with their father Anthony Maslin who remained in Europe and did not accompany the children on the flight. Picture: Facebook Source: Facebook

 

Evie and Otis Norris. Picture: Facebook Source: Facebook

 

Evie Norris. Picture: Facebook Source: Facebook

 

Asked about his dad Nick, a keen sailor at the South Perth Yacht Club and the managing director of change management group Collaborative Systemic Change, Brack — through tears — praised him as a model father­: “He had a lot of friends and a lot of loved ones.’’

Sydney nun Sister Philomene Tiernan­ was on her way home from a retreat in France.

Staff and pupils at her Sydney’s Kincoppal-Rose Bay school held a “beautiful liturgy” for her yesterday.
Principal Hilary Johnston-Croke expressed the school’s sorrow­ in a letter­ to parents: “Phil was a very much loved staff member and friend. She contributed greatly to our community and she touched the lives of all at KRB in such a positive and meaningful way.’’

As the extent of the tragedy began to unfold yesterday, the smiling face of Albert Rizk — the first Australian revealed as a victim — made the bastardry suddenly human.

The popular Melbourne real estate agent was in Europe on holiday with his wife Marie, who also died.

A memorial for Albert Rizk and his wife Marie who where both killed in the flight. Picture: Adam Elwood Source: News Corp Australia

 

Also on the flight were Illawarra couple Michael and Carol Clancy, who were returning from a three-week trip-of-a-lifetime through Norway, down the Rhine and Amsterdam.

Neighbour Gail Leila Rhind saw the Kanahooka couple before they flew out last month and was given a copy of their itinerary for their retirement getaway. “They were lovely people­. It’s terrible,’’ Mrs Rhind said.
Mrs Clancy’s daughter Jane Malcolm said: “They were going overseas for a big trip and we found out this morning (the plane) had been shot down. It hasn’t sunk in. It’s something that happens to other people, not something that happens to you.”

While the individual stories of tragedy were laid bare yesterday, a tale of collective woe emerged.
More than 100 of the world’s finest anti-AIDS crusaders — dozens of researchers, organisers and volunteers in the fight against HIV — were killed in the disaster on their way to a conference in Melbourne.

Professor Joep Lange, the former president of the International AIDS Society. Source: Supplied

 

Former High Court chief justice Michael Kirby, an ambassador to the Melbourne International AIDS Conference, described the downing of MH17 as a “barbarous act” and vowed to continue the struggle against HIV in the wake of the disaster.

“It’s a terrible blow,” Mr Kirby said.

The International AIDS Society issued a statement describing the cowardly act as an “incredibly sad and sensitive time”.

Among those lost was professor Joep Lange, the former president of the International AIDS Society with 31 years of priceless experience in the field of AIDS research.

Prince William last night expressed his profound sadness at the tragedy.

“For all of us who have lost fellow countrymen and women ... words cannot do justice to our sense of loss.”
Additional reporting — Leigh Van Den Broeke & Ashlee Mullany

EMMA BELL

Emma Bell relocated to the NT from Lithgow. Picture: Facebook Source: Facebook

 

Emma Bell in Maningrida. Picture: Facebook Source: Facebook

 

THE Lithgow teacher who had been working in a remote Northern Territory community was returning from a European holiday to start the new school term.

Ms Bell, aged in her 20s, had moved to the Maningrida community, 500km east of Darwin last year. Her colleagues were said to be devastated as condolence messages began to circulate yesterday.

CAROL AND MICHAEL CLANCY

Michael and Carol Clancy. Picture: Anna Fitzgerald. Source: Supplied

RETIRED couple Michael and Carol Clancy, believed to be 64 and 57, were due to return from a three-week European holiday. Staff and students at Albion Park Public School, where Mr Clancy taught for 21 years until the end of last year, were notified yesterday the couple were believed to have been on the plane.

Mr Clancy had worked in public education for 35 years. Mrs Clancy (pictured), a retired teacher herself, leaves behind two adult children from a previous marriage.

SISTER PHILOMENE TIERNAN

Sister Philomene Tiernan. Picture: Facebook Source: Facebook

 

SISTER Philomene Tiernan was on her way home from a retreat in the French town of Joigny to Sydney’s Kincoppal-Rose Bay school where staff and pupils held a “beautiful liturgy” for her yesterday afternoon.School principal Hilary Johnston-Croke, spoke of the school’s sadness in a letter to parents.

“It is with great sadness that I am writing to inform you that Sister Philomene Tiernan was a passenger on Malaysian Airline Flight MH17, which was shot down over the Ukraine this morning,” she wrote.

“Phil was a very much loved staff member and friend. She contributed greatly to our community and she touched the lives of all at KRB in such a positive and meaningful way.

“We are devastated by the loss of such a wonderfully kind, wise and compassionate woman who was greatly loved by us all. She was a great friend and mentor to me personally.

Ms Johnston-Croke said that she last heard from Sister Philomene, a member of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart, on Thursday morning.

“I ask all of you to please keep Sister Tiernan, her family, the Sisters of the Society of the Sacred Heart and our school community in your prayers at this time,” she wrote.

ANGELINE PREMILA

Only 30 years old ... Angeline Premila is believed to be one of the crew members on board Malaysia Airlines flight MH17. Picture: Facebook Source: Facebook

 

FRIENDS of Malaysian air stewardess Angeline Premila took to Facebook yesterday to express their shock and disbelief after hearing about the crash.

 

The Klang-born flight attendant, believed to be in her mid-twenties, was among 15 Malaysia Airline crew members on board MH17.

Colleagues who had seen the crew manifest wrote to her on Facebook pleading with her to make contact and let them know she was safe.

One friend, Mohammad Mohaimeen Rashid, shared the 30-year-old’s photo on Facebook and wrote: ‘You didn’t die, you just will be flying higher. Rest in peace’.

Friends of another flight attendant Shazana Salleh, 31, said:.

‘We pray for you Shazana. #MH17.”

ALBERT AND MARIE RIZK

Marie Rizk. Picture: Supplied Source: Supplied

Albert Rizk. Picture: Adam Elwood Source: Supplied

 

AS the extent of the tragedy began to unfold yesterday, the smiling face of Albert Rizk — the first Australian revealed as a victim — made the bastardry suddenly human.

 

The popular real estate agent was a director of Raine & Horne Sunbury branch, in Melbourne’s northwest.
He was in Europe enjoying the holiday of a lifetime with his wife Marie, who also died.

“We’ve just found out what’s happened. We’re still grieving, we would just appreciate some time,” a woman — believed to be a family member of the couple — said bravely, in the calmest of voices, despite being in shock yesterday morning.

She was speaking from the Rizk family home — a luxurious abode on a quiet street that is now mourning the loss of two of its most loved neighbours.

On July 9 Albert Rizk was posting on Facebook from Europe.

“Great photo ness,” he wrote under a photo of Vanessa Rizk, believed to be his daughter.

“We should go away more often.”

Family spokesman Ken Grech said the couple tried to change their flight to avoid a lengthy stopover in Kuala Lumpur.