Australian mining executive John Carr-Gregg, tragically killed in a plane crash in West Africa, has been remembered as a gentleman and family man at a memorial service in Sydney.
Australian mining executive John Carr-Gregg, tragically killed in a plane crash in West Africa, has been remembered as a gentleman and family man at a memorial service in Sydney.
Sundance chairman Geoff Wedlock, chief executive Don Lewis, Mr Carr-Gregg and non-executive directors Ken Talbot, John Jones and Craig Oliver were among 11 people who died when their twin-engine CASA 212 plane crashed in the Republic of Congo on June 19.
A public memorial service will be held in Perth on Wednesday for Mr Wedlock, Mr Lewis, Mr Jones and Mr Oliver.
About 200 people gathered at St John's Anglican Church in Gordon to pay tribute to the Sundance Resources company secretary on Tuesday.
Mr Carr-Gregg, who was 55, died with 10 others when a light plane crashed in the jungle in the Republic of Congo on June 19.
He was remembered on Tuesday as a family man and a great father to his two sons Gordon, 22, and David, 20.
His wife Susan said Mr Carr-Gregg was a true international whose work in Australia and developing countries made a real impact.
"John as a husband and a father ... always had a positive nature and great sense of humour," she told mourners at the service.
"And he always remained a gentleman, and this is how I will remember him."
Mr Carr-Gregg's son David said he was struggling to believe his father was really gone.
He said he remembered him as a man who was always beaming with a relentless energy.
Sundance's acting chief executive Peter Canterbury said Mr Carr-Gregg had made a major contribution to the company since joining in 2008 and his passion and enthusiasm would be sorely missed.
Meanwhile, the bodies of the six Australians and one permanent resident killed in the plane crash in West Africa have been formally identified, officials say.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) says it expects the remains of Sundance Resources' six board members to be released this week and flown back to their home states in Australia.
Mr Talbot's executive assistant Natasha Flason, a French citizen and permanent Australian resident, was also killed in the crash.
A DFAT spokesperson said on Tuesday the formal identification of the Australians on the plane had been completed with the assistance of an Australian Federal Police disaster victim identification team.
A Congolese Identification Board had convened on July 3 and endorsed the findings, the spokesperson said in a statement.
The Republic of the Congo would hold a ceremony this week in honour of the crash victims.
"We note that there is still some preparatory work that needs to be undertaken before the remains can be released from the Republic of the Congo," the DFAT spokesperson said.
"We remain in regular contact with Sundance and continue to provide consular support to the company and the families of the Australian passengers, including the family of the Australian permanent resident."
