Tragic Loss Mourned
Newcastle Herald
Tuesday March 18, 2003
FLOWERS and messages of support from Newcastle's collegiate community poured into Merewether High School yesterday as its students learnt of the loss of one of their own.
David Arkless, a member of the school's student council, died on Sunday morning when he fell 20 metres off a cliff on Mount Sugarloaf, West Wallsend.
The popular student leader had been taking part in an orientation exercise, part of the Duke of Edinburgh Award program, when he reportedly became separated from his group, slipping off a cliff on the western slope.
Yesterday, friends and relatives comforted his parents Jack and Yvonne, owners of the Natural Tucker health food store in Cooks Hill.
Speaking from her Merewether home, Mrs Arkless said she blamed neither her son's school nor the Duke of Edinburgh Award organisers for the 16-year-old's death.
Having returned from a year-long exchange to Hamburg, Germany, the couple's only son had slotted back into an active school life, representing fellow students on the council as well as raising money for a youth suicide prevention group.
"David was a very special person who could relate to everyone," Mrs Arkless said.
The keen rugby player who donned the green and white of the Merewether Carlton Rugby Union had travelled to Germany to further his rugby skills while studying.
"His host family were so sad to see him fly back home they gave him a key to their house and said `If you ever return don't knock, just use your key to enter our home'," Mrs Arkless said.
Police continued their investigations into the death yesterday, preparing a report for the State coroner.
Police said the fall occurred about 11.45am. David's body was recovered by paramedics, winched from the Hunter Westpac rescue helicopter, about 1.30pm.
© 2003 Newcastle Herald