Jillian Bavin-Mizzi - The Wanda Beach Killer

Christine Sharrock was only four years old when her father passed away. Five years later her mother, Beryl Jean Taig, remarried and moved to the north-western Sydney suburb of Seven Hills. Christine spent all of her school holidays with her grandparents, Isaac and Janet Taig. Eventually, she chose to live with them in their home on Brush Road, in the working-class suburb of Ryde. Christine tried hard to maintain her childhood friendships. From Monday through Friday, she took the bus from her grandparents home to Ryde Station and, from there, she took the train to Lakemba. That was the only way she could continue to attend St Thereses Convent School.

When Marianne Schmidt was eight years old, her family left West Germany as part of Australias post-war assisted resettlement scheme. The Schmidt family arrived in Australia aboard the Castel Felice in September 1958. They initially went to the Bonegilla Migrant Camp and then moved between various hostels in New South Wales, eventually settling in Temora in the Riverina district. Before long, Mariannes father, Helmut Schmidt, was diagnosed with Hodgkins disease. Helmuts friend, Walter Krueger, recalled: The doctors told him he only had a few years to live. In March 1963, the Schmidt family moved into a Housing Commission home on Brush Roadnext door to the Taigs. Like the Taigs, the Schmidts were regular churchgoers. They attended St Pauls Lutheran Church. Marianne settled into the local Marsden High School, but she rarely went out socially, except to take her brothers and sister to nearby Ryde swimming pool. Helmut Schmidt passed away on the 15th of June 1964, leaving his wife Elisabeth to care for their seven children.

Almost as soon as the Schmidts moved into Brush Road, Christine Sharrock and Marianne Schmidt became close friends, inseparable by all accounts. Mariannes mother later recalled: They did everything together. Marianne was more outgoing than Christine, but I could not say who would be the leader. One of their neighbours, Mrs J Todd, also spoke of how close the girls were, They went everywhere together. Everything one did automatically included her friend. Mrs Todd described the two fifteen-year-olds as very quiet girls, two of the most respectable girls I have ever known. She added that they always seemed to be doing the right thing. In another neighbours words, Christine and Marianne were little angels to their mothers and family.

In November 1964, the girls sat for their Intermediate Certificate and, according to neighbours, both were anxiously awaiting the results of their exams. Christine planned to enrol in a secretarial course. Marianne had been top in her class that year and she was hoping to attend Sydney Technical College to qualify as an air hostess. In the meantime, the girls were enjoying their summer holidays.

On Tuesday, the 5th of January, Mariannes mother was admitted to King George V Hospital for a major operation. Marianne recorded in her diary that she underwent surgery two days later. On Sunday, the 10th of January, the girls visited Mariannes mother in hospital. Elisabeth Schmidt gave them permission to take the young children to Cronulla Beach the following day. She said, Watch out for the small ones. If you are careful you can go. Mariannes older brother, Helmut Schmidt jnr., intended to go to the beach with the group. But on Sunday night he decided that, instead, he would complete some kitchen renovations he was working on. Thirteen-year-old Hans Schmidt then offered to accompany the girls, but Marianne told him, No, Hans. Well be all right.

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