Breaking News
Plea for warning signs at water hole
Tracey Findlay
04Apr07
WARNING signs could be installed near a popular swimming hole where a young Hornsby woman died on Sunday afternoon.
Cora Kazmirowicz, 21, was impaled through the chest on a tree branch after falling from a rock at the swimming area known as the Fishponds in the Berowra Valley Regional Park.
The shattered parents of the young woman have appealed for warning signs, fences or a barrier to be erected in the area, which is managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS).
A spokesman for the Environment and Conservation Department said it was ``highly complicated by the geography of the area'', which includes many rock ledges.
``We will take account of the family's request and we are looking at the issue and what can be done in the way of warnings for the area,'' he said.
``It's just a matter of where such warnings could go because you can't fence off half a kilometre.''
Access to the swimming hole is via a 3km bush track starting at parkland at the end of Rosemead Rd, Hornsby.
Long-time Hornsby resident Hedley Somerville said he knew of at least six deaths at the Fishponds.
Two of them eight-year-old Peter Duffy, who drowned in 1854, and Jonathon Myers, who died in 1962 are recorded in his book A Taste of Ginger.
``All of the ones I know of were drownings,'' Mr Somerville said.
``Swimming can be dangerous because it's very deep in one part and there's a number of submerged rocks.''
Police are preparing a report for the coroner on the death of Cora Kazmirowicz.
The young fashion designer completed her Higher School Certificate at Hornsby Girls High School in 2003 and achieved extraordinary results.
She topped the state in Polish and came eighth in textiles.
Principal Robert Phillips said she was very popular with both her peers and her teachers.
``She was a real vibrant, enthusiastic and just a lovely young woman, apart from being a really brilliant student,'' he said.
