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Sergeant
David Tener watches as his sons, Simon, Jason and Adam,
release a symbolic white dove at the funeral for Alison
Tener at the Norwood Park Crematorium Chapel in Canberra.
Photo by LACW Simone Liebelt
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Alison
Tener
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WITH
more than 500 houses destroyed and graphic television images giving
some idea of the ferocity of the Canberra inferno on January 18,
the death toll of four seemed miraculously low – but for
Sergeant David Tener, his three young boys and his wife’s
family and friends, the toll was unbearable.
SGT Tener’s wife Alison, a 38-year-old devoted mother of
three, was among the victims of the devastating bushfires.
In a tragic twist of fate, the family wasn’t even together
that day.
Alison was home alone in the family’s home in the suburb
of Duffy. About 240km away SGT Tener was having a quiet day at
RAAF Base Richmond but also thinking of his wife back in Canberra
and missing their three sons, Adam, 14, Jason, 12, and Simon,
9, who were visiting their grandparents. A further 400km north,
the three boys were staying with Alison’s parents, Bert and
Anna McSevney, in Coffs Harbour.
David had worked in No. 34 Squadron’s maintenance section
at RAAF Base Fairbairn in Canberra but was posted to No. 37 Squadron
at Richmond last September. It was a family decision for stability,
work and school reasons that Alison and the three boys would stay
in Canberra and he would commute to see them.
The family had lived at No 9 Burrendong Street in Duffy since
1994 and although it was a Defence house, it was their home. Alison
also loved her job at Airservices Australia, having only recently
received an Employee of the Month award.
Neighbours David and Helen Craven – who are like unofficial
grandparents to the boys – were the last to see Alison alive.
While trying to protect their own home they had urged her to leave.
No-one really knows but apparently she decided to save some more
family valuables.
In his tribute at Alison’s funeral service, David said: “Dear
Alison, I don’t know what happened on the day we lost you
and I guess only you ever will, what I do know is that in losing
you our hearts have been torn apart and we will never be the same.”
David first heard about the bushfire threat when a friend and
former workmate, Dean Brook-Rerecich, phoned. David’s immediate
response was “What bushfire?” He turned on the TV and
his nightmare began.
“They were showing various scenes and for just a split second
I thought I saw what looked like our house because you could distinctly
see a house burning and beside it a double car port which looked
like ours. I tried to ring Alison but couldn't get her at home,
the phones just weren’t ringing so I thought I’d try
her on the mobile but she wasn’t answering.”
After hours of frustrating phone calls and becoming more anxious
every moment, David decided to drive to Canberra, arriving about
1am.
“I rang the hospitals to see if she had gone there, perhaps
injured and not knowing where she was.
“I rang as many friends I could think of and then after I
finished the evacuation centres at about three in the morning,
a woman from the evacuation centre, who I later learnt was in
the Navy, drove me to the police roadblock in Duffy. They wouldn’t
let us into the area but a patrol car came back and reported that
the house was no longer standing.
“I was uncertain what to do. The Navy woman took me to her
mother-in-law’s place for a shower, something to drink and
some rest. They were complete strangers but took me in like I
was family.
“As soon as it was light I went back to the Narrabundah evacuation
centre but couldn’t find her so I went back to the Duffy
roadblock.
“I convinced a young policewoman to drive me up to the house
and the car was still in the car port and that had me really worried.
“We all sensed something was desperately wrong and my eldest
brother John and his wife Maree had driven down from Bathurst.
“It was soon after they arrived, I guess about 1pm, when
I saw the firemen all standing in one particular spot in the house.
We suspected the worst and John, who is a policeman, confirmed
that there was someone in the house.”
At Alison’s funeral her sons spoke of her influence on them,
their memories and understanding that their mother was destined
for other things. Twelve-year-old Jason told mourners: “It
may seem very sad and cruel what happened to Mummy but she didn’t
suffer. I think that maybe it was Mummy’s time to leave us,
I think Mummy was needed in another world.”
David recounted how lucky he was to have met his wife on a tour
in the United States.
“We had 19 wonderful years together, thank-you so much for
giving me that time and as painful as this is, I am so glad that
I knew you. Your presence in our lives was magical and wonderful
and hopefully we are destined to be together again some time.”
The service at Norwood Park Crematorium Chapel culminated in a
moving and symbolic farewell as the three boys released a single
white dove. Then, in the midst of tears, a lone piper played Amazing
Grace as a tribute to Alison’s Scottish ancestry.
Another memorial service for Alison Tener was held in Coffs Harbour
last weekend.
Although Alison’s husband and sons had scattered most of
her ashes in Canberra’s Commonwealth Park, her parents Bert
and Anna McSevney had planned to scatter the remaining ashes in
their own rose garden.
Then Mrs McSevney met the local Anglican Church Rector, the Reverend
Jane Foulcher, who said there was a rose garden at the back of
the church which they were welcome to use.
During the conversation, Rev Foulcher said she had also been touched
by the disaster as her own sister had lost a house in Canberra.
It was in the same street where Alison lost her life.
Thank
you
The
Tener and McSevney families have been overwhelmed by the support
they have received.
“I would like to thank the police, fire brigade, emergency
services, welfare and social agencies, the Defence Department,
particularly Defence Community Organisation staff and the Air
Force community,” SGT Tener said. “I was touched by
the support and representation at the funeral, with CDF General
Cosgrove and CAF Air Marshal Houston attending, along with my
colleagues from No. 37 and 34 Squadrons.”
