AS A sign of the community spirit that still burns brightly in Wonthaggi, despite its burgeoning growth over the past decade or so, 200 people turned out at a memorial service for Susan Goodwin at the Wonthaggi Golf Club on Wednesday, November 5, 2025.
Never mind that ‘Suzi Q’, as she was known here in her youth, has been away from the local district for several decades, more than 20 years of which after going missing from her Port Lincoln home in July 2002.
Maybe they remembered one of the biggest funerals in the town’s history, back in September 1984, when the Goodwin family and Wonthaggi were rocked by the deaths of three of Susan’s siblings; Gary Goodwin 20, Heather Goodwin 24 and Maree Tiziani 27 in a horrific car accident at Wyung near Bairnsdale that also claimed the life of their cousin, the driver, 20-year-old Stephen Shanahan.
In one fell swoop, parents Don and Margaret Goodwin lost three of their five children, leaving Susan and her younger sister Cheryl behind.
Susan, aged 21, was one of two surviving passengers in the car which struck a wooden bridge on Clifton Creek Road at 1am on Sunday morning, September 9, 1984, and plunged into the 5-metre-deep creek, the other being her cousin Christopher Bromage, aged 22.
According to details provided at the funeral, Susan was never the same afterwards, despite reportedly sustaining only minor physical injuries in the accident.
Perhaps they were aware of the harrowing campaign waged by Margaret, Don, their family and the local community for more than 20 years to get answers to Susan’s mysterious disappearance, the details of which remained unknown until Major Crime Investigation Branch detectives made a breakthrough in the cold case in September this year.
Following the discovery of Susan’s body and some personal items in the backyard of a Port Lincoln residential property, police charged a 64-year-old South Australian man with her murder. He was remanded in custody to appear again in April next year.
As much as the news provided the answers Susan’s family and friends had been seeking for two decades, it came too late to provide closure for her grieving parents, both of whom died in 2017, maintaining hope that their daughter might one day be found alive.
Mrs Goodwin placed an ‘in memorium’ notice for her children, lost in the 1984 crash, in the Sentinel-Times every year until her death, including the names of sisters Susan and Cheryl.
But most likely the people who turned out for an emotional memorial service in Wonthaggi on Wednesday remember the beautiful, fun-loving, social butterfly they shared their youth and good times with at primary school in Dalyston or Archies Creek, later at the Wonthaggi Tech, working at Durham’s grocery store or Smith and Nephews, playing tennis, fishing or out on the tear of a night at ‘Tabs’ or one of the other pubs.
Whatever the case, last Wednesday’s memorial service and the wonderful turnout would have provided great comfort to a family that has faced more tragedy than most.
The service started and finished with songs from the era, ‘Wish You Were Here’ by Pink Floyd first and ‘Stairway to Heaven’ by Led Zeplin as photos of Susan, her family and friends locally were flashed on the screen.
Civil Celebrant Bryan Sharp said ‘wish you were here’ spoke volumes about the absence of a person who should still be here with us, gone but not forgotten.
He said that for 23 long years, after Susan’s disappearance, questions lingered and were not answered, but that today’s service would provide some peace after a tragic passing.
Susan Goodwin’s eulogy by celebrant Bryan Sharp
Born in Bairnsdale on November 5, 1962, the fourth child for Margaret and Don Goodwin, Susan attended Dalyston and Archies Creek Primary School and later Wonthaggi Tech. Life growing up around Archie's Creek was full of adventure and fun. From a young age, Susie was out in the paddock learning to drive the old cars, shooting, ferreting, playing tennis and, of course, fishing. Fishing became one of her greatest loves. It wasn't just a hobby. It was something that stayed with her for life.
After leaving school, Susie's started work at Durham’s food store in Wonthaggi. She spent a few years there before moving on to the cotton mills. When she got her driver's license, there was no stopping her. She loved being on the road, visiting friends, heading out on adventures and chasing boys. Susie was social and fun loving. She enjoyed a game of pool, often playing in the local competitions at one of the Wonthaggi pubs. She had an easy-going charm that drew people to her.
But in 1984, tragedy struck when Susy was 21 years of age, coming home from a trip to her grandmother’s in Bairnsdale. On the way home, the vehicle she was traveling in went into a river. It was a heartbreaking accident with the three of her siblings; Maree, Heather and Gary each losing their lives. It was a devastating loss that changed the family dynamics forever. Susy's injuries were life changing, and she was unable to return to work. But Susy's spirit was strong. She loved life too much to give up on it.
She kept driving, kept traveling, and found joy in fishing trips all over the country, always on the lookout for the next great spot to cast a line. After a few years of moving around, Susy eventually settled in Port Lincoln around 1995. She made a home there with her partner, and enjoyed a quieter family life, still surrounded by the things she loved, good company, a bit of sport, a glass of scotch, and time by the water.
But in July 2022, tragedy came again when Susy went missing and for 23 long years, her family waited for answers, and finally her remains were found, bringing some closure, but never easing the loss of someone so loved.
Susy will always be remembered as a loving, caring daughter, sister and auntie. She had a big, playful heart, playful spirit and love of life, that not even tragedy could take away.
I’d now like to share a tribute with you on behalf of Susy's good friend, Caroline Gary. It reads: I first met Susy in 1980 when we worked for Earl Jeeves and Col Lamers at Foodland. Susy was on her L’s and would pull up to work in their old EJ Holden, cars were a big part of Susy's life. You always knew when Susy was coming. She would pull into the driveway with Suzi Quatro blaring out of the radio of her LC Torana. Now that she had her Ps off, we would go play pool at Archie's Creek pub for the ladies’ pool team. Susie was a very good pool player. A lot of great nights and funny memories with our teammates.
Susy's dad, Don would end up being the publican at Archies Creek, and that is where you could find Susy, on one side of the bar working or on the other side of the bar, spending what she had just earned.
She also worked at Smith and Nephew and the Miners Rest Hotel with her blue Torana and later blue panel van, sometimes still in the car park the next morning, after a few drinks the night before.
One of Susy's favorite pastimes was to hook up the caravan to her red Ford station wagon and go fishing, often to Lakes Entrance or closer to home, around Shallow Inlet, Kilcunda and surrounds, wherever they happened to be biting. Thank you, Chick (Cheryl) for asking me to contribute today. Susy loved you all dearly. As Suzi Quatro would put it, she was the wild one.
However, while there was a good turnout at her funeral in Wonthaggi, Susan Goodwin will not be laid to rest here with her parents and her siblings. The following notice was placed in the local newspaper: “Due to legal reasons, beyond Cheryl’s control, Susy’s burial will take place in Port Lincoln South Australia.”