Trekking handbook not shown to school student before fatal expedition
Stapleton, John. The Australian [Canberra, A.C.T] 20 Apr 2009: 5.
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Abstract
An email from [David Iredale], written to his friends on December 8, 2006, two days before the boys began their trek, states: "I have all the maps and navigation sheets which were given to me by Mr [Jim Forbes], so they are reliable.
A friend of David's from his earliest school years, fellow class member Phillip Chan, now 19 and studying law at the University of NSW, spent all of Friday being cross-examined at the inquest.
He recalled agreeing with David Iredale's sentiments about their map's misleading statements on water supply: "Plenty of water my arse."
AT least one of the three students from the private Sydney Grammar School involved in an ill-fated mountain trek for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award was never shown the handbook explaining how the scheme works.
The handbook providing detailed information for participants in the scheme, which is designed to build character among young people, states there should be a minimum of four boys on any trek in order to qualify for awards.
It recommends a minimum group of five to seven for remote-area treks, such as the one in the Blue Mountains that led to the death of 17-year-old David Iredale on December 11, 2006.
The story of the staggering indifference of the 000 operators, who the state Coroner heard last week took five calls from David as he was dying from heat exhaustion but failed to even take his name or telephone number, has overshadowed the culpability or otherwise of the school.
Sydney Grammar, which took months to respond to police inquiries for information, is expected to come under intense pressure this week as chemistry teacher Jim Forbes, the school's Duke of Edinburgh Award co-ordinator, faces the inquest.
While the NSW Ambulance Service has apologised unreservedly to the grieving Iredale family, the school has denied any knowledge of the trek.
But evidence tendered to the inquest shows the boys' frustration that Mr Forbes forgot to bring them a promised and potentially life-saving GPS device.
An email from David the other boys sent two days before they left assures them everything will be all right because maps and navigation sheets for the trek had been provided by Mr Forbes.
Clearly written on their map, at the location of the campsite near the base of Mount Solitary where they spent their first night, are the words: "Lots H2O here."
An email from David, written to his friends on December 8, 2006, two days before the boys began their trek, states: "I have all the maps and navigation sheets which were given to me by Mr Forbes, so they are reliable.
"They are all correct and I have been assured by Mr Forbes that this is a fairly easy trail to follow so we won't have any problems on that front."
A friend of David's from his earliest school years, fellow class member Phillip Chan, now 19 and studying law at the University of NSW, spent all of Friday being cross-examined at the inquest.
He recalled agreeing with David Iredale's sentiments about their map's misleading statements on water supply: "Plenty of water my arse."
The inquest resumes today.
Credit: John Stapleton
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