Hillcrest Primary School jumping castle inquest begins

The inquest into the 2021 Hillcrest Primary School jumping castle tragedy has concluded its first week of hearings in Tasmania. The incident, which occurred on December 16, 2021, claimed the lives of six children—Zane Mellor, Addison Stewart, Chace Harrison, Jye Sheehan, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones, and Peter Dodt—after a freak “mini-tornado” lifted inflatable equipment into the air.

During the hearings, Georgie Burt, mother of Zane Mellor, expressed hope that the proceedings will result in lasting improvements to safety standards. Ms. Burt testified about the chaos following the event, noting she was unable to find her son at the school and did not see his body until three days later at a funeral home.

Tasmania Police Assistant Commissioner Adrian Bodnar apologized to Ms. Burt, acknowledging she had been barred from entering the school oval while other families were permitted access. Lead forensic investigator Dean Wotherspoon also admitted that police “could have done better.”

The inquest is set to examine several factors, including the setup of the equipment by operator Taz-Zorb, national safety standards, and potential shortcomings within the education department.