Lives and Personalities of Hillcrest Jumping Castle Victims Shared as Tasmanian Inquest Starts
DEVONPORT, TASMANIA — September 21, 2026

A long-awaited coronial inquest into the deaths of six children at Hillcrest Primary School has begun in Devonport, almost five years after a sudden wind event lifted a jumping castle into the air during an end-of-year celebration.

The children — Addison Stewart, Chace Harrison, Jye Sheehan, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones, Peter Dodt and Zane Mellor — died in the December 16, 2021 tragedy. Three other children were seriously injured.

Court Hears About the Children
The opening of the inquest focused not only on the circumstances of the tragedy but also on the lives of the children who died.

Counsel assisting the coroner, Maree Norton SC, described each child as photographs were displayed in the courtroom.

Peter Dodt, 12, was a Grade 6 student with nine siblings. His father was particularly proud of the improvement in his school grades after he began attending Hillcrest Primary School.

Chace Harrison, 11, was in Grade 5 and loved sport. He was described as worldly and interested in researching topics that caught his attention.

Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones, known as JJ, was 12. She was described as loyal, kind and caring, with a contagious laugh, and dreamed of becoming a childcare worker.

Zane Mellor, also 12, was described as witty, cheeky and adventurous. He had a strong interest in technology and was known for his creativity and energy.

Jye Sheehan, 12, enjoyed school and spending time with friends. He loved mathematics, was a sports leader and choir member, and mentored younger students.

Addison Stewart, 11, enjoyed school life and was often among the first to offer help when asked.

Mother Describes Search for Her Son
Zane Mellor’s mother, Georgie Burt, was the first family member to give evidence at the inquest.

She described the confusion following the incident as she searched the school grounds for her son and tried to find out what had happened.

Burt told the court she was eventually informed by police that Zane had died, but she said she was not allowed to see his body until three days later at a funeral home.

She also told the court she was never personally contacted by school staff after the tragedy and only heard from staff within Tasmania’s Department of Education, Children and Young People the following year.

Inquest Examines the 2021 Tragedy
The tragedy occurred on December 16, 2021, when a powerful, highly localised wind event swept across the Hillcrest Primary School grounds.

The sudden wind lifted the jumping castle and carried it across the school oval.

The inquest will examine the circumstances surrounding the deaths and is intended to make findings about the individual deaths where possible.

The proceedings follow a criminal case involving Rosemary Gamble, who owned the jumping castle and the Taz-Zorb business that supplied the equipment. Gamble was found not guilty in June 2025 of failing in her work health and safety duty.

Hearings to Continue Into 2027
The first hearing block is scheduled for four days this week at the Paranaple Centre in Devonport.

Further hearings are scheduled for November and February, with evidence expected from police, health authorities, a forensic investigator and others involved in the investigation.

The coronial process is expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the children’s deaths and provide findings based on the evidence presented to the court.

Sources: ABC News Australia; Coroners Court Tasmania.