NT: Aborigines planning funeral for Ansell in Arnhem Land

AAP General News (Australia)
08-09-1999
NT: Aborigines planning funeral for Ansell in Arnhem Land

By Catharine Munro

DARWIN, Aug 9 AAP - Rod Ansell, the original Crocodile Dundee who shot dead a policeman
last week, is expected be given an Aboriginal funeral in Arnhem Land.

Ansell, 44, was killed in a shootout with police after fatally wounding Sergeant Glen
Huitson, 37, about 50km south of Darwin last Tuesday.

The violent deaths followed a 12-hour search for Ansell, who had shot at two houses in the
area the previous night.

His motives remain a mystery and the case is being investigated by the coroner.

The events shocked Darwin, where Ansell was known as a buffalo hunter and a bushman who had
been living on an Aboriginal-owned property in Arnhem Land, about 600km south-east of Darwin.

Ansell's two sons, Shaun and Callum, are believed to have requested that an Aboriginal
community at Mt Catt, near Bulman in central Arnhem Land, allow a funeral to be held on their
grounds.

"The two boys said they want to have the funeral at Mt Catt," said Lorna Martin, who works
at the clinic at Bulman.

Ansell spent some time in the area in the 1980s as a buffalo catcher and continued to make
frequent visits.

The service will interrupt an important ceremony being held at Mt Catt but arrangements
were being made for the proceedings to be halted for one day for the funeral on Thursday, Mrs
Martin said.

"Everybody said it's okay," she said.

Ansell's parents, George and Eva, both in their 70s, are understood to have journeyed to
the Northern Territory from their home in Murgon, 260km north-west of Brisbane, to say goodbye
to their son.

Meanwhile, the widow of the slain policeman, Lisa, said she had just returned from Daly
River Crossing, where she had scattered her husband's ashes.

Mrs Huitson told reporters she had spent three happy years there with Sgt Huitson and they
had taken their son, Joseph, two and Ruby, six months, back there to be baptised.

"It was just a special place for us," Mrs Huitson said.

Sgt Huitson's brother Bevan, sister Julie and parents Carole and John attended a press
conference to thank the police and the people of the NT for their support.

"We are absolutely amazed at your generosity, the funds raised, the flowers sent and the
well wishes and toys for Joseph and Ruby," Bevan Huitson said.

AAP cm/was

KEYWORD: GUNMAN

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