Basnett family remembered after tragic Gunning accident 

Family tragedy on Gunning property | PHOTOS, VIDEOS

Gunning Show organisers held a minute’s silence for their friends, Andrew and Annie Basnett on Saturday.

Mixed feelings of sadness, loss and a shared sense of healing rippled through the weekend event, following the couple’s tragic death with Andrew’s brother, Richard on Thursday night.

The trio died at the couple’s Veterans Road property, ‘Nerragundah,’ Oolong, where Andrew had been cleaning out an enclosed water tank with a hose and petrol fuelled pump. While the cause of death is yet to be established, police believe all three were overcome by carbon monoxide fumes from the pump after entering the tank. Emergency services were notified at 6.20pm.

The family was well known and loved in both Yass and Gunning.

“We’ve had tragedies before but this has absolutely rocked our community to the core,” Gunning Show treasurer and good friend, Trish Hallam said on Sunday. 

“I am just about cried out. The outpouring of grief is incredible and it is heart wrenching to even admit that they’ve gone.”

The Show’s Flock Ewe Competition, in which Mr Basnett was heavily involved and previously won, was cancelled this year as a mark of respect. He was a well regarded sheep breeder who worked for the industry’s betterment, the couple’s friend, Ann Darbyshire said.

Both were deeply involved in community life, including the Show. Mrs Hallam said people were grieving but the event was a chance for some healing.

“It’s a chance to come together, share experiences and even have a laugh. Andrew would be the last person to suggest cancelling the Show and Annie was such a vibrant personality. She was such a character and could get away with things that others wouldn’t. They both had such a wide circle of friends,” she said.

Mrs Hallam said the couple were married for 40 years. Andrew had moved to Gunning as a teenager with his family, including his electrical engineer father.

Annie was born in Sydney but despite being a “city girl,” took to country life with gusto after marriage. Mrs Hallam told The Post it was not unusual to see her drenching sheep. Mrs Darbyshire recalled her hand-feeding stock through drought and saying she “had one more drought left in her” after the effort.

Mrs Basnett was also an adept cook, a palliative care volunteer, including in Goulburn, and a member of Goulburn’s Belmore Club, among many other community involvements. Both she and Andrew were also active in the Show Society at various times. Mrs Hallam described Andrew as “a true gentleman.”

Mrs Hallam and husband, Gary, knew the couple for 30 years and their children came together during school holidays for many happy days spent by the river. 

“If anyone wanted help, they would be the first ones there. The way they and Richard looked after (the brothers’ 102-year-old) mother was really a credit to them. Richard would come from Canberra and stay overnight,” she said.

In December the couple welcomed a new grandson – this time a boy – adding to four girls. Mrs Basnett was reportedly over the moon and “doted” on all her grandchildren.

Mrs Hallam said they were a close knit family and told The Post their children were naturally devastated.

“...It will take a long time to get over this,” she said.

“Everyone just loved them, so we’ve lost something very precious from our community. Every time I have a spare minute, I think she’s right there in front of me.”