WA victims of MH17 disaster
A Dutch teacher who was an Australian permanent resident was yesterday confirmed as the most recent WA-based casualty from Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17.
Her inclusion among Australian victims takes the national toll from the disaster to 37 citizens and residents.
DAFNE NIEVEEN
Dafne Nieveen was returning home to Perth when she boarded the ill-fated Kuala Lumpur-bound service on Thursday night (WA time).
Ms Nieveen, who is understood to have been travelling alone, has a Dutch partner living in Perth.
She works at LanguageOne, an organisation with “a broad educational program that conforms closely to the Dutch curriculum”, its website says.
Speaking from Amsterdam on Saturday, LanguageOne Perth coordinator Wilna Cornelisse confirmed Ms Nieveen boarded Flight MH17.
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EDEL MAHADY
Mahady is an Irish-born mother-of-two.
Mrs Mahady, aged in her 50s, was returning from Dublin where she had visited her sisters and elderly mother during the school holidays.
It is understood her husband and two children remained in Perth.
Mrs Mahady, originally from Palmerstown, was the school bursar at Good Shepherd Catholic Primary School in Kelmscott.
She was also a fitness instructor at Fitness First in Cannington and Myaree.
Her family released a statement today, paying tribute to a woman who had a zest for life and a “fierce love” for her family.
Edel Mahady
“Edel Mahady took care of people,” the family said.
“She was devoted to and immeasurably proud of her husband Dereck, son Conor and daughter Ciara.
“If there was an Irish version of a ‘tiger mother’ Edel was it.”
The statement said Mrs Mahady “dealt with prince or pauper the same” and viewed failure as a chance to do better next time.
“Edel’s enthusiasm for living life was evident in the fact she held two jobs that had a great impact on two communities,” the family said.
“Edel didn’t merely ‘do’ her work. Her humour, strength, wisdom, joy and determination drove people to achieve their best.”
She immigrated to Australia about 20 years ago.
Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Charlie Flanagan said he had spoken with Mrs Mahady’s family and passed on his condolences.
"Sadly, we have learned that one Irish-born citizen was on board the flight to Kuala Lumpur," he said.
"On behalf of the Government and people of Ireland, I would like to convey deepest sympathies to her family, both in Ireland and in Australia, who have suffered this sudden and devastating loss.
“Ireland fully supports calls for a full, independent international investigation to establish the cause of this grave tragedy and to ensure that those responsible are swiftly brought to justice.
“I encourage all the authorities involved - and the parties to the conflict in Ukraine - to work together, to ensure that the hundreds of families who have been bereaved can get the answers they need.”
NICK NORRIS
Nick Norris, 68 – A father-of-four and well-liked member of the South Perth Yacht Club.
Mr Norris was married to his wife of 31 years, Lindy, a senior education lecturer at Murdoch University.
He ran a Maylands-based company called Collaborative Systemic Change, which helped organisations and indigenous communities manage change positively.
He was a former teacher and a lieutenant-colonel in the Army Reserve.
Nick Norris.
MO, EVIE AND OTIS MASLIN
Mo, 12, Evie, 10, and Otis Maslin, 8, are the pride and joy of Scarborough couple Anthony Maslin and Rin Norris.
The Maslin children were on Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 with their grandfather, Nick Norris, when the plane was shot down. They were returning to Perth after a two-week holiday to Amsterdam.
Mo was a Scotch College student, described as “a clever, artistic boy” by his auntie Natalia Gemmell.
Mrs Gemmell said Evie “would have been an incredible artist” and Otis “loved nature.”
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Mo, Otis and Evie
ARJEN AND YVONNE RYDER
Arjen Ryder, 54 – A father-of-three who lived in Albany with his wife, Yvonne.
The couple were returning from an extended holiday in Europe, where Mr Ryder had family.
Mr Ryder was a highly-respected senior technical officer at the of Agriculture and Food.
He had worked at the department for more than 30 years, helping to rehabilitate saline land in the south of WA. He was a member of the https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/full-coverage/mh17-disaster/a/24504473/albany-cyclists-ride-for-ryder/Albany Cycling Club] and recently won the 50km Kees Glorie Memorial Handicap.
Arjen Ryder
The couple were returning from an extended holiday in Europe. Mrs Ryder was a staff member at John Calvin School.
It is understood she took long service leave to enjoy a European holiday with her husband. The Ryders were prominent members of the Free Reformed Church of Albany.
Fatima Dyczynski
WA SCHOOLS MOURN LOST TEACHERS AND CHILDREN
FATIMA DYCZYNSKI
Dyczynski, 24 - A former John XXIII College student who was returning to WA to start an internship at IBM.
Ms Dyczynski completed a science degree at Delft University of Technology in South Holland earlier this year, specialising in aerospace, aeronautical and astronautical engineering.
She founded high-tech start-up firm Xoterra Space last year and dreamed of becoming an astronaut.
Ms Dyczynski spoke to her Perth-based parents, George and Angela, via Skype as she boarded the plane. She told them she was looking forward to coming home.
Sattler's tribute to Fatima Dyczynski
Australian victims
At least 37 Australian citizens and residents died in the MH17 disaster.
VICTORIA
17 victims
AVNON, Itamar
The 27-year-old Dutch national was a student at Melbourne's Swinburne University, living in Windsor. He had been visiting his family in Amsterdam and attended a wedding in Israel. He was on his way back to Australia to resume his business studies.
DAVISON, Francesca "Frankie"
DAVISON, Liam
The Toorak College (Mt Eliza) teacher and her husband were on board the flight. Ms Davison, 54, had taught at the school for 28 years and also worked with disadvantaged communities in Sri Lanka. Liam, 57, was an award-winning novelist, teacher and keen cyclist. They leave behind two children, Milly and Sam.
GRIPPELING, Marco
IT security consultant, 48, and Dutch national from Melbourne. His wife, family and friends are devastated by his loss. His wife, Angela, had been holidaying with him but reportedly took an earlier flight back to Australia.
LEE, Gary
LEE, Mona
Gary and Mona Lee, from Glen Iris, had been on a European holiday which included a cruise. Gary, a retiree, had run a Chinese restaurant while his wife Mona, who was a schoolteacher. The couple had moved to Melbourne from Malaysia in the 70s. The couple have two daughters, both doctors, who live in Melbourne.
MAHLER, Emiel
TEOH, Elaine
The couple, both 27, were on their way to a wedding in Malaysia. Ms Teoh, originally from Penang in Malaysia, and Mr Mahler, a Dutch national, lived in Melbourne where they worked in the finance sector. (It's understood that Ms Teoh, as a Malaysian national, wouldn't be included in the Australian death toll.)
MENKE, Gerry
MENKE, Mary
Gerry Menke and his wife Mary owned an abalone pearl company in Mallacoota and have been described as a "beautiful couple". The business recently won a prize at the East Gippsland Business Awards.
RIZK, Albert
RIZK, Maree
The husband and wife from Sunbury, north of Melbourne, have two children, James and Vanessa. Albert and Maree were returning to Australia, after a month-long holiday in Europe, and reportedly had been trying to change their flight to avoid a long stopover in Kuala Lumpur. Mr Rizk was a director of the local Raine & Horne real estate branch.
VAN DEN HENDE, Hans
VAN DEN HENDE, Piers
VAN DEN HENDE, Marnix
VAN DEN HENDE, Margaux
DEWA, Shaliza
Hans van den Hende, his wife, Shaliza Dewa, and their three children Piers, Marnix and Margaux lived at Eynesbury, west of Melbourne. Piers, 13, played soccer at Melton Phoenix, and club president Steve Fuller found out about the family's death early on Saturday morning.
QUEENSLAND
Seven victims
BAKER, Wayne
BAKER, Theresa
The couple were aged 55 and 53, respectively. They have two sons, aged in their 20s. The Bakers were based in Buddina on the Sunshine Coast but also lived in Darwin. They recently retired and had been travelling around Europe for six weeks.
GUARD, Roger
GUARD, Jill
Toowoomba couple and doctors Roger and Jill Guard, were returning to Australia after holidaying following a medical conference. Roger Guard was director of pathology at Toowoomba Hospital, while Jill Guard worked as a GP. Both were well-regarded in the Toowoomba and Queensland health communities.
HORDER, Howard
HORDER, Susan
The Brisbane couple, both 63, had been travelling in Europe. They have three sons - living in Melbourne, the Sunshine Coast and London - who are on their way to in Brisbane in the wake of their parents' deaths.
SIDELIK, Helena
The Gold Coast woman, aged in her late 50s, was reportedly travelling home from a friend's wedding in Europe, according to the Gold Coast Bulletin. She had moved to Burleigh from Melbourne four years ago. It's been reported she was originally from Adelaide.
NSW
Five victims
CLANCY, Michael
CLANCY, Carol
Retired Wollongong couple Michael and Carol Clancy, believed to be in their 60s, are understood to have been on the flight following a three-week European holiday. A neighbour and close friend of the Kanahooka couple, Gail Leila Rhind, said Mrs Clancy's former husband told her the couple had been killed.
O'BRIEN, Jack
Jack O'Brien, 25, was on his way home to Sydney after a seven-week European holiday. Family members said they were devastated his life had been cut short so suddenly. "He was loved so much," the family said in a statement. (It is not yet clear if Mr O'Brien is an Australian citizen or permanent resident)
ORESHKIN, Victor
Victor Oreshkin, believed to be in his 30s, was returning home after a five week trip to Europe. He is believed to be of Russian background. According to his church's pastor, Mr Oreshkin was a religious man who was involved in church ministry. "He was really loved by everyone so it was a big shock for all of us," Mr Minchenko told AAP. "He was a really big part of the church so we really feel for his parents as well as for Victor."
TIERNAN, Philomene
Sister Philomene Tiernan, 77, a nun who taught at Kincoppal at Rose Bay, was among those killed. Among those paying tribute were Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull. "Many women incl (sic) my wife Lucy & daughter Daisy were inspired by the love of Sr Phil Tiernan RSCJ," he tweeted.
ACT
One vicim
DERDEN, Liliane
Mother of two Liliane Derden, 50, from Hall in Canberra's north. Ms Derden worked for the National Health and Medical Research Council, whose staff expressed deep sadness at the loss of a valued colleague and friend.
NT
One victim
BELL, Emma
A young Homelands teacher aged in her 20s, joined the staff at Maningrida College early last year. She was spending the school holidays in Europe before returning to the Northern Territory for the new term beginning next week. She grew up in Lithgow in NSW.
The NT government was initially claiming the Baker couple, who are based in Queensland, in the territory toll.
**As at 10.30am on July 20, DFAT's official Australian toll remains at 28 known citizens and nine permanent residents.
(Sources: Government advice, media reports, family members, Malaysia Airlines passenger manifest. Some of the victims may not be Australian passport holders)
