Windang Death Goes Unnoticed By Neighbours

Illawarra Mercury

Tuesday March 6, 2007

By TOM STURROCK

LAKE Illawarra police have called on the elderly to form closer contacts with neighbours after a 61-year-old man's body lay undiscovered for more than a week in a Windang caravan park.

Police were called to the Oaklands Village Caravan Park last Tuesday after residents became concerned about James Mickleburg, who had not been seen in previous days.

Mr Mickleburg was a permanent resident at the park, and when police opened his cabin they found his body on the floor. It is believed he had been dead for more than a week.

"Quite a few people were shocked and concerned," park manager Nikki Wright said.

"He moved in in 2004 and was a very quiet man. It's a very close-knit community here and we're surprised it wasn't picked up earlier."

Since the beginning of 2006, there has been a series of incidents where elderly people were found months, even years, after passing away. Their deaths highlight the isolation affecting some of society's most vulnerable members.

In September last year, Sydney police found the skeleton of a public housing tenant who was estimated to have died almost two years before his remains were discovered. The deceased had been a resident of a Department of Housing terrace in The Rocks.

In February last year, a 62-year-old man was found six months after he died in his Department of Housing flat in Surry Hills. A week later, another man, 63, was found in a Waterloo department building eight months after passing away.

Sergeant John Klepczarek from Lake Illawarra Police Command said the latest incident should remind the community about the importance of neighbours.

"It's a worry when someone passes away and people don't realise they're gone for almost two weeks," Sgt Klepczarek said. "We encourage people to look after each other. We tend to be more isolated from our neighbours, but people need to make time to reach out to each other, especially when they're getting a little older."

Lola Ryan and Maria Rafan are two elderly neighbours who take Sgt Klepczarek advice seriously, going out of their way to look after each other.

When the neighbours spoke to the Mercury last year, they agreed that having a friend next door made them feel much safer.

EDITORIALSad part of life. Page 17

© 2007 Illawarra Mercury

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