One of the very few people in this world who left things a little bit better than how he found them. RIP.

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I am also named in Julia Shepards book “Some one elses daughter” I will see everyone at Garrys funeral on Thursday.

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I now can sleep easier during the day. Mate…your comment is inspiratiinal, it”s nice to think that som

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Just found this site and am very impressed – I like the community-contribution aspect.

To the point: Very good article regarding this wonderful man. I cried when Anita’s murder hit the news and I cried when I read of Mr Lynch’s death.

My son, now 22, was four weeks old when this murder took place. I lived at that time in Blacktown and incredibly was walking the exact same spot where Anita was grabbed – just 30 minutes prior. I had been to the St George ATM on the corner opposite the station.

The very randomness of the crime shocked me and everyone else; 30 minutes prior it could have been me – an hour later someone else…somewhere they would have found a victim.

We were so shocked as details of the crime emerged over the following weeks that my husband and I moved out of Blacktown and up to Gosford to be with my parents. We never went back.

It is almost incredible to suggest that ‘some good’ came out of Anita’s murder, but in that it changed attitudes – within the community and across the legal system – regarding the way victims and their families were/are treated – we are now so much more aware.

Garry Lynch became the ‘conscience’ that the legal system has so long lacked; that he worked to help, support and bring about change whilst suffering unimaginable grief himself shows how the most ordinary and unassuming person among us can make one hell of a difference.

I have written my own article in tribute to Mr Lynch – read it here if you pardon my being so presumptious…

http://www.culturedviews.com/garry-lynch-the-man-who-gave-the-victims-of-crime-a-voice-passes-away/2008/09/21/view.htm

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I have read “Someone Else’s Daughter” many times, In 1986 I had just left Australian shores to become an exchange student in the United States as a dewy eyed 18 year old, I arrived there caught Glandular Fever and then watched the shuttle blow up live. I don’t remember if i saw any news about Anita’s murder perhaps only a handful of Australians who didn’t eat, breathe and live this murder in 1986. I returned to Australian shores in 1987 in time for the trials of these murderers. In the late 80′s i had occasion to visit Long Bay to visit a friend of my partners Grandfather, and remember seeing 3 of the Cobby killers, and as i had been brought up very conservatively it was an eye opener for a young girl. I don’t know how Grace or Katherine will move on after Garry’s death, I have lost my Father this year in May suddenly. I remember the service at Pinegrove in May this year and I spared a thought for Anita that day as well. RIP Garry, and may your wife, daughter and grandchildren enjoy the rest of their lives in peace and wonderful times. Anita you are still thought of often, and a prayer goes up for your family.

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Paul, how old are Katherine’s children. I understand Isabelle is quite young, but im not sure about Cameron….. I just wanted to know if Anita got to meet him.

I did not know Anita, nor did any of my family. But some how everytime I hear her name I feel like I have suffered a personal loss.
I organised a small charity event for the Homicide Victims Support Group, of which I had no idea about untildear Gary passed away. As a result I shook the hand of the executive director, Ms Jabour. I felt that through shaking her hand I had a connection with all victims that have shaken that same hand.

It was a completely moving realisation

As a result of hearing about murders, and definatly Anita’s being the most important in this decision, i have great aspirations of becoming a prosecutor.

Anita, we are all sorry that such an angel like you had to suffer death at the hands of five monsters. We know you are now with your beloved father in Heaven, and hopefully one day, we will all be with you in heaven as well.
I pray for your family and your memory every day.

Rest In Peace Anita Lorraine Cobby. Australia Loves You.

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This afternoon I watched a re-run of Crime Investigation Australia about Anita’s shocking murder. I remember clearly when it happened, I was a few weeks off giving birth to my first child. My heart broke for Anita & her family, & I worried about what type of world my child would grow up in with evil monsters like that in it. Later I read the book ‘Someone Else’s Daughter. My heart always ached whenever I saw Garry on tv, he was so much like my Dad, I hated that he had to spend the rest of his days with a broken heart! I never forgot his face, or Anita’s! When I heard of Garry’s passing last year, the first thing I thought was, “at last he is at peace & with his darling daughter, now he can finally put his arms around her again.” God bless Grace & Kathryn, your daughter & sister will never be forgotten.

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Brian O'Connor Reply:
July 6th, 2010 at 1:24 pm

I have just been researching as many stories regarding the Anita Cobby murders as l can possibly take in. (Tonight channel 9 is showing adocumentary on the subject 7/2010)As with anyone who lived through that case l was stunned firstly (that people like those 4 could even exist),disgusted and utterly appalled at the depravity of the case.I have always contended that it was the “ultimate clash” of society.No one writer in all the years of following this tragedy has ever actually highlighted the fact that this murder as tragic as it was, was really a classic case of “worlds colliding”Consider the people concerned…on one front you have the finest example of benevolence,decency, education, community spirited and a product from a
strong loving family.On the other side you find 4 individuals that were raised in appalling condtions hopefully few of us will ever have to know about or experience.Only a year after a girl named janine Baulding also lost her life in eerily similar circumstances.She also had the unfortuanate luck of encountering a group of horrible types who took her life in the uglist of fashion.Like the 4 murderes of Ms Coby they too were from miserable backgrounds.Most horrific murder cases generally involve a perpretater coming from a broken/ dysfuctional family, throw in the usual drug and alcohol addictions and you have your prototype of a sadistic murderer.However the four involved in the Anita Coby case were something perhaps never seen in Australian crime.What a lot of people don’t remember is the reason this appalled so many in the community. That reason was that the media realeased the finer points of the brutality of the crime and did not report it like a regular opportunist type murder as normal.This outraged society like never before. Everyone wanted answers and everbody was baying for blood. Who or what could commit this crime on a fellow human being. The mood was palpable.When the arrests were finally made we got sight of 4 individual men of the lowest order.They were filthy in appearance, dirty,bedraggeld and dispicable looking types you could scarsely believe lived amongst us.They more than perfectly fitted the profile of the type we hoped would commit a gruesome crime like this.They not only fitted the look they blew it out of the water.We suddenly felt better about ourselves as peole and despised the idea that folk like theres could actually exist.Thats why l have always viewed this as a case of not only an innocent being in the wrong place at the wrong time but more a case of “worlds colliding”.Sadly we will see this happen again for l believe the “haves and have nots” in society has never been more obvious.Therefore l think it is in evitable that an outragious crime of this magnitude will be thrusted before us and again we will be forced look at ourselves and ask how?Lets hope not……bigdogskater aged 44.

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