Gareth Morgan’s father has told of the heartbreaking moment he learnt his son had been killed in a seaplane crash in Sydney.
Dudley Morgan was at home with his wife in British Columbia, Canada, when the dreadful news arrived.
‘One New Year’s Eve at eight o’clock in the morning there was a knock on the door of our home…’ Mr Morgan told mourners at his son’s memorial service.
‘There were two police officers standing there.
‘And they told my wife Orlis and I that our son Gareth had been killed in a float plane crash on the Hawkesury River near Sydney.
‘Our beloved 44-year-old son was no longer with us on this earth.’
Mourners (pictured) gathered in Sydney to remember sea plane pilot Gareth Morgan
About 200 mourners filled the Jubilee Church at Waverley in Sydney’s eastern suburbs
Mr Morgan (pictured) was killed when the de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver he was piloting crashed into the Hawkesbury River at Jerusalem Bay, north of Sydney, on New Year’s Eve
About 200 mourners filled the Jubilee Church at Waverley in Sydney’s eastern suburbs on Wednesday to farewell the pilot who was killed with his five passengers.
‘This is totally back to front,’ his father told those gathered.
‘A child is supposed to give a eulogy at their parent’s funeral, not the other way around.
‘We cannot understand it.’
Mr Morgan was killed when the de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver he was piloting crashed into the Hawkesbury River at Jerusalem Bay, north of Sydney, on New Year’s Eve.
Also killed were his five passengers: English businessman Richard Cousins, 58, his fiancée Emma Bowden, 48, her daughter Heather, 11, and his sons Ed, 23, and William, 25.
The family had taken the flight from Rose Bay, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, to the Cottage Point Inn on the Hawkesbury River for lunch.
The crash is being investigated by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau and its cause is still unknown.
Friends and family were seen bringing bouquets of flowers to the funeral for Mr Morgan
Mr Morgan regularly attended services at Jubilee Church (pictured), where family and friends had gathered on Sunday to remember him
Friends described Mr Morgan as a gentleman who never had a bad word to say about anyone
Hundreds farewelled the pilot on Wednesday who was killed along with his five passengers
Friends have described Mr Morgan as a gentleman who never had a bad word to say about anyone and did not even tell crude jokes.
He was studying to fly larger planes and wanted to work for Qantas. Mr Morgan lived with three flatmates at Enfield, in Sydney’s inner-west.
Mr Morgan’s parents Dudley and Orlis, brother Dallas and sister Cydane flew into Sydney from Toronto on January 5 when they released a statement about their loss.
‘We would like to thank the police and emergency services for their great diligence at this tragic time,’ the statement read.
‘We would also like to give thanks to the civilians that tried to assist in the immediate aftermath of the accident and also Gareth’s friends and colleagues in Australia who have helped us through the last few days.
‘Gareth was a wonderful and caring son and brother who never ceased to make us proud. His loss is devastating.’
Mr Morgan’s father, Dudley, said ‘a child is supposed to give a eulogy at their parent’s funeral, not the other way around’
Also killed were his five passengers: English businessman Richard Cousins, 58, (left) his fiancée Emma Bowden, 48,(right) her daughter Heather, 11, and sons Ed, 23, and William, 25
Mr Morgan regularly attended services at Jubilee Church, where family and friends had gathered on Sunday to remember him.
Pastor Fini de Gersigny, who co-founded the church with his wife Isi, has described Mr Morgan as a ‘gentleman of the skies’.
‘He would always come to church on Sunday when he wasn’t working, dressed immaculately, and he loved wearing smart, shiny shoes,’ Mr de Gersigny said last weekend.
Family and friends described Mr Morgan’s, who was studying to fly larger planes, tragic death as ‘devastating’
Pastor Fini de Gersigny, who co-founded the church (pictured) with his wife Isi, described Mr Morgan as a ‘gentleman of the skies’
‘It’s been very difficult for us, Gareth was a man of the church for five or six years and was always offering his support to those in the church who needed it.’
The de Gersignys founded Jubilee Church 21 years ago ‘in response to a vision from God to move to Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs’, according to their website.
Sydney Seaplanes, which operated the plane in which Mr Morgan died, has been supporting his family since their arrival in Sydney.
The crash is being investigated by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau and its cause is still unknown