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Australia

Halls Creek Shire president Malcolm Edwards worried for family members reported overdue traveling back from Alice Springs

A composite image showing three people's faces side by side - a man, a woman and an older woman

A Kimberley man whose family have disappeared while on a trip to Alice Springs says it’s completely out of character for them not to answer phone calls and texts.

Bonnie Edwards, 70, and her son and daughter Eldride Edwards, 41, and Virginia O’Neil, 49, were expected to arrive back in their hometown of Halls Creek on either late Sunday or Monday, but have so far not returned and were reported overdue yesterday.

According to a statement issued by Northern Territory Police this afternoon, they were last seen on Sunday.

Malcolm Edwards, who is Bonnie’s husband and Eldride and Virginia’s father, told the ABC on Wednesday afternoon that the trio had traveled to Alice Springs to attend a meeting involving Indigenous people in an outlying community.

The Halls Creek Shire president said the last time he had spoken to his wife had been on Saturday morning after the meeting had wrapped up, but she had not said where they planned to stay that night.

“My wife said they’re back in Alice Springs and they’ll tell me all about it [the trip] when we come home,” he said.

Malcolm Edwards sitting in front of the shire offices.
Malcolm Edwards hasn’t heard from the trio since the weekend, despite numerous calls and texts. (ABC Kimberley: Andrew Seabourne)

He said Virginia had spoken to her son briefly on Sunday morning, and that was the last known contact with the three missing people.

“My daughter said they’d met this really nice guy and they were going to stay at his place. We don’t know who that is. No idea who that person was,” he said.

Police say the trio have not made contact with anyone and there have been no signs of financial activity from them since Sunday.

Cr Edwards said he had raised the alarm on Tuesday after repeated calls and texts to his wife, son and daughter went unanswered.

“They normally ring and tell us. This is out of character,” he said.

“They’d normally ring up and say, ‘we’re leaving Alice Springs now we’ve decided to go via Katherine’, they would tell us.”

Aerial image of outback town's main street
The group were expected to return to Halls Creek several days ago.(ABC Kimberley: Ted O’Connor)

Now he is worried someone else is using his daughter’s phone.

“The police picked up a ping that the phone was turned on at 2am on Monday morning and the ping was located somewhere near a caravan park in Alice Springs,” he said.

“We’re starting to think it was not Virginia who turned the phone on because if it was her she would have seen all those messages.

“As far as we know none of the bank accounts have been used, but there have been a few bank accounts that we haven’t got access to, but the police will check all those out.”

The missing trio were supposed to be traveling from Alice Springs to Halls Creek on the Tanami Road, but Cr Edwards said police had checked CCTV at roadhouses along the way and found no evidence they had embarked on their journey home.

As the Halls Creek community awaits news from police, Cr Edwards said his wife’s relatives in Alice Springs were helping to raise awareness in the community.

A dark red ute parked in a driveway.
The group is traveling in this red Toyota Hilux.(Supplied: Northern Territory Police)

“We feel like we can’t do much,” he said.

“Some people who are related to us in Alice Springs are driving around town, [asking] ‘have you seen this car, have you seen these people?'”

Along with Cr Edwards, Bonnie and Virginia are also councilors with the Shire of Halls Creek.

The group is traveling in a red Toyota Hilux with the WA registration plate, PH27156.

Police are calling for anyone who knows where the trio may be or have seen their vehicle to contact police.

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Australia

Geraldton methamphetamine trial hears drugs worth $160 million transferred mid-ocean

Geraldton methamphetamine trial hears drugs worth $160 million transferred mid-ocean

The seizure of 1.2 tonnes of methamphetamine in the port city of Geraldton almost five years ago was preceded months earlier by the “successful importation” of hundreds of kilograms of the drug, the WA Supreme Court has been told.

The revelation came at the start of a new trial for five men accused of involvement in the massive drug importation in December 2017 — Jabour Anthony Lahood, 56, Peter Harb, 48, Christos Cafcakis, 48, Serupepeli Anthony Rasaubale, 38 and Khalid Elia Kaena , 57.

The court was told the methamphetamine, or ice — worth about $160 million — had been transferred onto a 55-foot vessel, called the Valkoista, in a mid-ocean rendezvous with another vessel dubbed “the Asian boat.”

It is alleged the crew members on each boat provided a half-torn Hong Kong bank note to verify their identities before the transfer took place.

Police were watching

Commonwealth prosecutor Chris O’Donnell SC said the Valkoista then made its way to Geraldton where a “ground crew” was waiting to collect the drugs.

Unbeknown to those involved, the importation was being watched by police, who swooped as the 60 bags containing the drugs were loaded into a van.

Two AFP officers with faces blurred next to an open van door containing sacks of drugs.
A van containing the methamphetamine was seized by authorities in Geraldton in December, 2017.(Supplied: AFP)

Mr O’Donnell said Mr Cafcakis was one of the crew on the Valkoista, Mr Rasaubale and Mr Kaena were members of the ground crew, and Mr Lahood and Mr Harb were the organizers of the operation and oversaw what was happening from Sydney.

Mr O’Donnell said the importation had not “come out of the blue” but had followed a successful operation five months earlier, when the Valkoista had been purchased for $350,000.

Those who bought the boat were told they needed to look for a vessel that had a carrying capacity of between 400 kilograms and 800 kilograms.

The methamphetamine smuggled in during the July operation was transferred to the Valkoista mid-ocean, then driven from Geraldton to Sydney, Mr O’Donnell said.

He said that earlier importation was the beginning of a “chain of events” that culminated in the December drugs seizure.

Boat running low on fuel

The court heard the drugs were again transferred to the Valkoista in a mid-ocean rendezvous in December 2017, and while they were meant to be taken back to Hillarys, in Perth’s north, they ended up in Geraldton because that was the nearest port and the Valkoista was low on fuel.

Mr O’Donnell said the “successful” importation happened after meetings in Sydney involving Mr Lahood.

A van with its back doors open with a charge of bags containing meth, at Geraldton harbour.
The drugs ended up back in Geraldton because the vessel that was meant to transport them was low on fuel. (Supplied: AFP)

Witnesses in the case are expected to include two men who were involved in the December importation—the captain of the Valkoista and one of the “ground crew.”

At the beginning of the case, Justice Michael Corboy informed the jury members there had been a previous trial involving the men, but it had concluded for reasons he said were not relevant to anything they will have to consider.

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Australia

Three people reported overdue traveling back from Alice Springs, NT Police say

A composite image showing three people's faces side by side - a man, a woman and an older woman

Northern Territory Police is seeking help to locate three people returning from a trip to Central Australia, who haven’t been seen for several days.

Bonnie Edwards, 70, Eldride Edwards, 41, and Virginia O’Neill, 49, were last seen on Sunday, when they attended a weekend function in Alice Springs, according to a statement issued by Northern Territory Police this afternoon.

Family members in Western Australia reported the trio overdue for their return on Tuesday.

The group is traveling in a red Toyota Hilux with the WA registration plate, PH27156.

Police believe the group may be traveling to Western Australia.

However, NT Police would not say specifically where the trio was traveling to or when they were expected to arrive.

A dark red ute parked in a driveway.
The group is traveling in this red Toyota Hilux.(Supplied: Northern Territory Police)

According to the statement, the trio have not made contact with anyone and there have been no signs of financial activity since Sunday.

Anyone with information on where the trio may be or have seen their vehicle is being asked to contact police.

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Australia

WA unions warn of more industrial action as they reject McGowan government’s latest wage offer

WA unions warn of more industrial action as they reject McGowan government's latest wage offer

The standoff between public sector unions and the McGowan Labor government is set to escalate after unions decided to continue their campaign for better pay in a rejection of the government’s latest wage offer.

They described the latest offer as inadequate and said it did not offset inflation, declaring they would go ahead with a mass rally outside state parliament on August 17.

Unions WA Secretary Owen Whittle warned the government it had “entrenched industrial strife through the rest of their term of government.”

A joint meeting of public sector unions representing police, firefighters, prison officers, teachers, child protection, health and other public sector workers decided to press on for a “fair pay” deal for the public sector workforce.

A generic photograph of an unidentified WA Police officer wearing a high visibility police vest over a blue uniform.
Police are among the workers represented by the unions fighting for a better deal.(ABC News: Kenith Png)

Mr Whittle said the government’s revised offer was an acknowledgment the workers deserved a pay rise but it was not good enough, as interest rates and cost of living soared.

Unions want at least 5 per cent a year

The McGowan government has offered a three per cent increase in salaries this year and next, plus a $2,500 one-off payment. The unions wanted the government to come to the table with an offer of at least five per cent a year.

“The three per cent is a low wage offer in the current economic environment, it doesn’t recognize the hard work of the public sector through the pandemic and doesn’t recognize the extremely high cost of living pressures that workers are currently facing,” Mr Whittle said.

Unions WA secretary Owen Whittle speaks to journalists.
Owen Whittle says the offer does not offset the skyrocketing cost of living. (ABC News: Tabarak Al Jrood)

“The new policy does not adequately offset inflation over the two years it covers.

“Further, it comes off the back of pay going backwards in real terms for most over the past five years.”

The government upped its pay offer to public sector employees on Sunday following the ongoing campaign by unions and in acknowledgment of rising cost of living pressures.

Premier Mark McGowan said the $2,500 payment was to reflect current pressures, which he expected to ease over the next year.

WA Premier Mark McGowan speaks at a media conference wearing a suit and tie.
Mark McGowan says the payment would help workers cope with the “temporary” spike in inflation.(ABC News: Keane Bourke)

Perth currently tops all capital cities with a whopping 7.4 per cent inflation rate.

Unions also said the one-off bonus was just that, a one-off, and would be gone in a year. What was needed instead, the union argued, was a further percentage increase to base salaries.

Mr Whittle today granted the revised offer may be approved by some groups of union members “as the one-off payment does deliver benefits to low wage public sector workers”.

But for others, he said, real wage cuts will continue in the second year of the agreement.

“There is a serious problem in the second year when the one-off payment that is not on the base wage is long gone and the three per cent rise fails to keep pace with inflation.”

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Categories
Business

Perth weather disruption continues as storm fronts lash WA, but power restored to airport

Perth weather disruption continues as storm fronts lash WA, but power restored to airport

Power has been restored to Perth Airport after a major outage sparked by severe weather caused widespread flight cancellations and overnight delays.

The severe weather, brought about by an once-in-a-year triple storm front hitting Western Australia, saw all outbound services scheduled to depart before 8:30pm on Tuesday grounded.

Check-ins, security screening and car park access were also affected.

Passengers were reportedly told to go home for the night and to contact their travel agents.

“Perth Airport is working to activate all systems across its terminals in order to become fully operational,” Perth Airport said in a statement.

A wide shot of passengers sitting inside a terminal at Perth Airport.
The power outage at the airport left passengers delayed and in many cases sent home.(Supplied: Night News)

“We ask passengers for their continued patience as our team and our airline partners work to get flights underway.”

The airport has apologized for the inconvenience, saying the safety of everyone who worked in or was traveling through Perth Airport remained its highest priority.

Thousands still without power

The airport was one of thousands of properties left without power across Perth as the first of three powerful cold fronts battered the state.

Debris from a collapsed ceiling lies across a living room.
The ceiling of a Joondalup home in Perth’s north collapsed overnight as the wild weather continued.(Supplied: Night News)

At the peak of the storm yesterday morning, Western Power said 35,000 customers were without electricity, but it has since been restored to more than 25,000 properties.

The wild weather is set to continue, with damaging winds averaging 65 kilometers per hour and peak gusts in excess of 100 kph likely along the west coast and Perth this morning, before conditions ease during the late afternoon.

Heavy showers and thunderstorms are also expected to persist throughout the day.

A wide shot of an emergency services vehicle outside a home damaged by bad weather at night.
Emergency services were called to a Port Kennedy home after it suffered damage to its roof and fence.(Supplied: Night News)

A severe weather warning for damaging surf is also in place, with significant wave heights exceeding 7 meters already occurring in exposed locations.

Swell forecasts of over 9.5 meters are predicted to hit Rottnest Island and Cape Naturaliste today.

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Categories
Australia

Sustainable wild sandalwood harvest sought by Yilka traditional owners

Sustainable wild sandalwood harvest sought by Yilka traditional owners

The smell hits Kayshun Murray when his chainsaw is almost through the trunk.

Standing in a helmet and steel-capped boots in the West Australian desert, the young ranger inhales a fragrance judged to be among the world’s best.

“You can actually smell all the beauty in it,” he said.

The scent of the sacred sandalwood tree has wafted over Yilka country, more than 1,000 kilometers north-east of Perth, for millennia.

It has long been coveted by international perfume houses and incense makers from New York to Beijing.

Western Australia has harvested the trees and distilled their valuable oil to help meet that demand since 1845.

But Mr Murray and other Yilka traditional owners were only granted a seat at that table a year ago when they received a license to harvest wild sandalwood on their country.

They are determined to retain that right into the future.

Push to ban wild harvest

Calls have been made to ban the harvest of wild sandalwood amid fears it is being pushed towards the brink of extinction.

A law that determines how much can be taken will be reviewed before the end of 2025.

The government will call for public comments about a management program in the coming months.

He wears hi-vis and leans on a crate of sandalwood
HM has wanted to see sandalwood harvested on Yilka country for decades.(ABC News: Madison Snow)

The driving force behind the Yilka sandalwood operation, known as HM for cultural reasons, said he understood those concerns.

But the Yilka Talintji Aboriginal Corporation chairperson said Aboriginal people should have the opportunity to benefit from industry on their land — as the WA government had for years.

Figures from WA’s Forest Products Commission (FPC) show that total revenue from wild sandalwood is expected to exceed $21 million, excluding costs, in the past financial year.

Yilka secured native title to the Cosmo Newberry reserve in 2017.

That meant, after receiving its harvesting license, it could profit from harvesting the wild tree.

HM said all earnings were invested back into the land after paying rangers’ wages and buying new equipment.

“That way, you don’t have to depend on government,” he said.

Sandalwood sits in a crate
Sandalwood is worth up to $25,000 a tonne.(ABC News: Madison Snow)

‘Regeneration is happening’

HM said his organization hired an external consultant who said a 100-tonne annual wild harvest would be sustainable on Yilka country.

But he said Yilka Heritage and Land Care rangers would instead harvest 60 tonnes, 20 of which would be dead wood.

He said rangers harvested “every second legal tree” from pre-determined lots.

He said they would not return to that lot for 45 years — the time it took for trees to grow.

HM said 20 seeds were thrown down to replace every felled tree.

WA’s Forest Products Commission has attributed the decline of wild sandalwood to the disappearance of small marsupials that buried and dispersed seeds, overgrazing, and reduced winter rainfall rather than harvesting.

It believes regeneration work could help turn things around.

HM stands to the right of the machine, which looks like a tractor
Plant equipment has been customized to pull sandalwood trees.(ABC News: Madison Snow)

HM said the junior ranger program — made up of school-aged children from Cosmo Newberry — helped with regeneration by measuring, photographing, and recording the coordinates of pulled and planted trees.

“So when we go for our next license we can prove to the government that all this regeneration is happening from where we pulled last year,” HM said.

social sustainability

The harvested sandalwood is taken to Dutjanh Sandalwood Oil’s distillery in Kalgoorlie where oil is extracted and sold to the international fragrance market.

Distillery chief executive Guy Vincent, who recently returned from the World Perfumery Congress in Miami, said a combination of cultural stewardship and scientific expertise was key to ensuring the wild sandalwood industry was sustainable.

The small bottle is held between thumb and forefinger
A ranger holds a small bottle of sandalwood oil from Yilka country.(ABC News: Madison Snow)

Mr Vincent also said Dutjanh, who was half-owned by Aboriginal Australians and invested about 30 per cent of earnings back into communities, and Yilka had clear commitments towards social sustainability.

But he said the industry needed to do more in that space.

“Purchasing the wood through groups like Yilka is economically and socially sustainable because we have our benefit sharing,” Mr Vincent said.

“[But] we’re a very rare case in the industry.”

She stands in hi-vis and points at the tree
Ranger Jessica Sullivan with a sandalwood tree on Yilka country.(Supplied: Bridie Hardy)

The WA government recently appointed an Aboriginal Sandalwood Advisory Group to help increase First Nations’ involvement in the industry.

It said it increased the wild sandalwood quota available for Aboriginal people seeking a license last year while reducing the FPC’s quota.

It also said social sustainability was among the criteria that wild harvest sandalwood quantities would be reviewed again by 2026.

‘You can walk in freedom’

Ranger Lyall Westlake said he felt at peace on country.

He has curly hair and a face mask tucked under his beard
Lyall Westlake says he loves working on country.(ABC NewsEmily Smith)

“The land is really perfect,” he said, standing under rain clouds on the Great Central Road.

“You can smell the breeze. Smell the wind.”

He said it was different from in town where there were more cars and people.

“You don’t know who is coming and going,” he said.

“But here you can walk in freedom.”

Fellow ranger Gwenetta Westlake said she loved working with her younger sibling, Chelsea.

Two women stand next to each other smiling on a bare, flat patch of land
Gwenetta and Chelsea Westlake love their work as rangers.(ABC News: Madison Snow)

“She always chases me, wherever I go because she’s my baby sister,” she said.

The Cosmo Newberry residents are among the 45 rangers HM has on the books to manage the sandalwood operation, as well as cool burns and care for cultural sites.

A ranger is pictured from behind, as flames leap into the shot
Rangers conduct cool burns on Yilka country.(ABC News: Madison Snow)

HM said the work provided alternative jobs to the local mining industry and was a better fit culturally for many of those involved.

He said a well-managed industry could pave the road to a better future for many residents.

“Looking after country is the most important thing for us,” he said.

“If we don’t, we don’t exist.”

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Categories
Australia

Voluntary assisted dying’s ‘prohibitive’ communication laws face GP legal challenge

A middle aged man with his arms crossed looking at the camera while standing in front of a bush

A Melbourne GP is taking legal action against the federal Attorney-General to fight what he calls an “extraordinarily prohibitive” law that prevents doctors from communicating via modern technology with terminally ill patients about assisted dying.

Dying with Dignity Victoria board member Nick Carr said he had pursued legal action in the Federal Court to clarify the definition of suicide in the Commonwealth Criminal Code 1995.

Under the code, it is illegal for a person to discuss suicide through a carriage service, which includes phones, text messages, emails and telehealth services.

Dr Carr said he filed the affidavit after federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus did not respond to a letter warning legal action would be taken if the code was not clarified.

He also said former Attorney-General Michaelia Cash wrote to him in February saying she would not change the code.

Big ends for breaking the law

To be approved for Victoria’s assisted dying scheme, two doctors need to verify a patient has less than six months to live for a physical illness and 12 months for a neurological condition.

But breaking the communication laws can result in ends of up to $222,000 for individuals or $1,110,000 for businesses.

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Categories
Australia

WA FIFO worker Jonathan David Small sentenced to 10 years in jail for repeatedly raping colleague

An earth mover shifts dirt into a truck in the Pilbara

Just weeks after a damning WA parliamentary report into sexual harassment and assaults in the mining industry, a FIFO worker has been sentenced to 10 years in jail for repeatedly raping a colleague.

Jonathan David Small, 44, was found guilty by a District Court jury of six charges of sexually penetrating the 22-year-old woman without her consent, after they went out to dinner while they were on rostered days off in Perth.

Both worked for BHP at the time, but Small was sacked after the woman reported what happened to her superiors when she returned to her worksite, in the Pilbara, two days later.

Small was charged with eight offenses. He denied them all, maintaining the sex was consensual, but he was found guilty of six of the charges and acquired of the other two.

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Categories
Australia

Series of cold fronts set to see wild weather in Western Australia continue until Wednesday

Series of cold fronts set to see wild weather in Western Australia continue until Wednesday

A series of three cold fronts is continuing to impact Western Australia after damaging properties, tearing down power lines and uprooting trees in the state’s south overnight.

The wild weather is set to continue on Tuesday night and into Wednesday, with damaging winds in excess of 90kph likely in the southern half of WA, leaving many home owners worried about the damage it may cause to their properties.

That concern became Tryster McCarthy’s reality when she heard a loud noise coming from her bedroom in Mt Helena, east of Perth, as she was tending to her baby at 4:30am on Tuesday.

“I heard a big noise and I thought it was more rain and more wind, and then [I heard] a big crash and then there was a branch in my bedroom ceiling above where my partner sleeps,” she said.

Tryster McCarthy looking at branch
Ms McCarthy assesses the damage caused by the tree. (ABC News: Nic Perpitch)

The branch had fallen from a tree in the neighbour’s yard and punctured the roof in four different places.

Ms McCarthy has not been able to afford home insurance for the past six months due to the rising cost of living.

Tree branch poking through the roof Mt Helena
The tree branch punctured the roof in four places.(ABC News: Nic Perpitch)

As State Emergency Service (SES) workers attended the property, the rain continued, causing further damage to the interior of the house.

Ms McCarthy’s home was one of 276 across the state requiring help from the SES in the past 24 hours, according to the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES).

SES fixing Mt Helena house roof
An SES officer fixes the damage on the roof of Ms McCarthy’s home. (ABC News: Nic Perpitch)

perth bears brunt of storm

DFES said Perth had been hit the worst by the once-in-a-year storm, with almost 80 per cent of affected properties in the metropolitan area.

Along with damaging infrastructure, the wild weather left many homes without electricity.

An aerial appears knocked over by a patio that has flipped onto a roof
The storm has damaged the roof of a home in Mullaloo. (ABC News: Nicolas Perpitch)

At the peak of the storm in the morning, Western Power said 35,000 customers were without power. It has since been restored to more than 20,000 properties.

More than 500 incidents, including downed and damaged wires and poles which have been impacted by wind gusts of up to 130kph, were active across the network at midday.

A collapsed carport
Maddi Mann from Yokine sits in this picture of a collapsed garage carport.(Supplied)

A statement issued by Western Power stated the utility had all available crews out fixing issues across the network but there was a possibility some customers would not have their power restored today due to the number of hazards.

“Our priority is to respond to reported hazards to ensure the safety of the community,” the statement said.

“This may mean our crews attend to make an area safe and leave for another emergency job without restoring power.”

A hand holds a giant ball of hail
David Zander from Parmelia said it hailed at his house early this morning. (Supplied)

Wind likes to continue into Wednesday

Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) duty forecaster Jessica Lingard said the strong winds would continue.

“Tonight will be very similar to what we experienced last night,” she said.

“We are expecting the peak of the wind activity to be late tomorrow morning and then we’ll start to see conditions slowly improving through tomorrow afternoon, but it won’t be until overnight tomorrow that we start to see conditions easing.

“The main risks with the winds peaking during the day is that people are outside moving around so driving can be particularly hazardous, especially if we’ve got branches falling down from trees.”

Bickley and Mandurah reported wind gusts of up to 117kph ​​just after 2am, which were the strongest winds recorded in those areas in more than 50 years, according to Ms Lingard.

She said Cape Leeuwin recorded wind gusts just after midnight which were equal to a category two cyclone, at 137kph.

Powerful swells cause waves to swallow most of the sand at North Beach
The severe weather has created dangerous swells along WA’s coastline, including at North Beach.(ABC News: Nicolas Perpitch)

Ms Lingard said the weather had caused dangerous swells along the west coast. She warned beach goers to stay out of the water.

The BOM has forecasted 15 to 20 millimetres of rain and westerly winds from 50 to 70kph on Wednesday in the Perth metro region.

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Categories
Sports

West Coast Eagles star player Josh Kennedy announces retirement

West Coast Eagles star player Josh Kennedy announces retirement

Veteran West Coast Eagles forward Josh Kennedy has confirmed Sunday’s home game against Adelaide will be his last in the AFL.

Kennedy, 34, will depart the game as West Coast’s leading goal kicker, a three-time All-Australian, dual Coleman medalist and premiership player.

He was an integral part of the club’s 2018 premiership side as West Coast’s only multiple goal kicker on the day, with three crucial majors.

He also had 18 disposals and took 11 marks as the Eagles claimed their fourth premiership.

Drafted by Carlton at pick No.4 overall from East Fremantle in 2005, Kennedy played 22 games for the Blues before somewhat reluctantly agreeing to be involved in the famous trade that sent West Coast premiership captain Chris Judd to the Blues at the end of 2007.

Josh Kennedy high fives Jack Darling after kicking a goal
Josh Kennedy (right) said his body had taken enough.(AAP: Richard Wainwright)

After a stellar career spanning 17 seasons, Kennedy said his body has had enough.

“My knee is a big reason for retiring. I think my drive to play is still there, but I’m realistic my body is not going to be able to take me to another season,” he said.

“To be able to farewell West Coast supporters one last time at Optus Stadium and say thank you for the incredible support over the years will be the perfect way to finish my career.”

Club farewells ‘one of the greats’

West Coast CEO Trevor Nisbett said the club was blessed to have had Kennedy for the last 15 seasons.

“We have been fortunate to have many great players come through the doors of our club over our 35 years and Josh ranks with the best of them,” he said.

West Coast Eagles Chief Executive Officer Trevor Nisbett speaks at a press conference
Trevor Nisbett says Josh Kennedy will leave a lasting legacy.(AAP Image/Richard Wainwright)

“His achievements compare to the greatest in the history of the game. He is our highest-ever goal kicker and one of our most durable players.

“But his on-field achievements are only part of the story. He has been a guiding light for our younger players, but also a significant contributor across the broader community.”

Coach Adam Simpson said Kennedy was loved by his teammates and would go into history books as one of the greatest players.

“Josh is going to be one of the game’s greats and one of the club’s greats,” he said.

Adam Simpson walks across the field with his head down and hands in his pockets
West Coast coach Adam Simpson says Josh Kennedy has been instrumental in the club’s success.(AAP: Darren England)

“What he’s done in my time at the club, it’s just been a pleasure to see and watch. Coleman Medals, the ability to stand up in big games. Clutch, not just goals, but clutch moments.”

Sunday’s game against the Crows will be his 292th AFL game.

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