Wendy RICHARDSON
Wendy RICHARDSON
Hopes are still being held for a member of an iconic Cairns family missing after a boat accident in the Torres Strait.
Speech therapist Wendy Richardson, 68, was travelling from Badu Island to a nearby island by a six-metre dory-style boat when it overturned near Mabuiag Island after lunchtime on Thursday.
Police said she was accompanied by two men aged 22 and 34.
Her family said the party swam to a nearby reef, then tried to swim to another reef when Mrs Richardson disappeared. The men were eventually winched to a helicopter.
Mrs Richardson is daughter of pioneer aviator Sir Rob Norman, who founded Bush Pilot Airways, and Lady Betty Kimmins.
The family has strong associations with James Cook University and the Cairns Art Gallery.
Her son, Mike Berry-Porter, flew from his Brisbane home to Cairns yesterday to be with family.
"She's a fantastic lady — very inspirational — a leader here locally in Cairns," he said.
"Mum was tirelessly helping the community, helping people who had a greater need than her.
"We still hold out hope that she may well still be found.
"We'd really like to thank the local Torres Strait Island community."
Another son, Brad Russel, said his mother had been in the Torres Strait to help people in her capacity as a speech pathologist.
"I do know that she was really loved by the people up there," he said.
"She did also speak of the transit in the boats which was often a little bit scary for her actually.
"But I think she liked the adventure in some way."
Mrs Richardson has previously made tilts at Queensland Parliament and Tablelands Regional Council.
Mrs Richardson's sister, Julie Ryan, said her sister was a "reasonable" swimmer.
"Given the shock of the situation and probably being alone in the water is a pretty frightening experience," Mrs Ryan said.
"She did have a little bit of a heart condition so that wouldn't be helping her."
Mrs Ryan said her sister was "totally driven" in her efforts to help young kids with speech.
"I've watched her do absolutely magic things with people who couldn't read or people whose voices are badly affected," she said.
"The reason she kept going back up to the Cape was to help kids who otherwise wouldn't have access to this kind of level of support."
Police, emergency services, and local islanders are still searching for Mrs Richardson.
The search for a woman missing in the Torres Strait after a boat accident has been suspended.
Far North Queensland speech pathologist Wendy Richardson, 68, was travelling with two others from Badu Island to a nearby island in a six-metre dory-style boat when it capsized near Mabuiag Island on Thursday afternoon.
Ms Richardson, from the Tablelands, was in the Torres Strait assisting people with their speech.
Her family said the party swam to a nearby reef after the capsize and was trying to reach another reef when Ms Richardson disappeared.
A 34-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman swam to safety and were winched to the Horn Island rescue 700 helicopter about 3 nautical miles off the south-east end of Mabuiag Island on Thursday afternoon.
Ms Richardson's children Mike Berry-Porter, Brad Russell, Nathalie Richardson and Trent Richardson released a statement on Monday.
"It is with broken hearts and profound sadness that our family confirms that the search for Wendy Richardson has been suspended," the statement said.
"We are eternally grateful to the Queensland Police Service, local Badu Island, Mabuiag Island and greater Torres Strait Islander community for their tireless search efforts.
They said the love and support they had received since the capsize was gratefully appreciated.
"As a dedicated speech pathologist, Wendy was tireless in her work to help community, often supporting people who had a greater need than her," they said.
Ms Richardson is the daughter of pioneer aviator Sir Rob Norman, who founded Bush Pilot Airways, and Lady Betty Kimmins.
The family has strong associations with James Cook University and the Cairns Art Gallery.
Cairns Water Police officer Andrew Ibell said search coordinators had asked people in the area to keep a lookout.