Robert Woodger
June 20, 2007
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

The Sydney Morning Herald
(Sydney, Australia)
June 21, 2007

Man questioned over missing cabbie

Jano Gibson
June 21, 2007 - 12:21PM

Police are interviewing a man in relation to the disappearance of 
taxi driver whose bloodstained cab was found abandoned in a 
suburban Sydney street yesterday morning.

The white 2002-model Ford Falcon, with the words "Sydney 
Australia Wide Taxi" written in red on the driver's door, was 
found by a passer-by at the corner of Warrawong Street and 
Read Street in Eastwood about 6am.

There was no sign of the driver - a 67-year-old man from the 
eastern suburbs - but a substance believed to be blood was 
found inside his cab.

"Police hold grave concerns for his welfare and believe he might 
have met with foul play," police said in a statement.

A 22-year-old man was arrested by police today over a separate 
matter.

Detectives are currently interviewing him about the taxi driver's 
disappearance.

The taxi driver has been described as being white/European in 
appearance with grey hair. He was wearing a blue shirt and light-
coloured jacket.

The taxi was in the Epping Road, Marsfield, area about 3am 
yesterday, police believe.

Anyone who can assist police should phone Eastwood police on 
9858 9277 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Sydney Morning Herald
(Sydney, Australia)
June 22, 2007

Family appeals for taxi driver's body

June 22, 2007 - 12:44PM

The family of a murdered Sydney taxi driver is pleading for their 
father's body to be found so they can say goodbye.

Robert Woodger, 67, of Coogee in Sydney's east, has not been 
seen since his bloodstained taxi was found abandoned on a 
street in Eastwood in Sydney's north-west on Wednesday about 
6.15am (AEST).

Bloodstained clothing, a knife, a tomahawk and gaffer tape were 
found inside the vehicle, along with clumps of hair on the knife-
slashed driver's head rest.

Chinese student Xinfei Gu, 22, of Eastwood, has been charged 
with Mr Woodger's murder, but police have been unable to find a 
body.

As police divers searched a river near Macquarie University on 
Friday, Mr Woodger's three adult children appealed for the public 
to look in gardens, bins and under trees for anything that could 
assist police.

"All we want now is to find our father so we can lay him to rest," 
his son, Stewart Woodger, told reporters.

"That's just a standard right of any human being that passes 
away, for the family to be able to say goodbye in a respectful 
manner."

Documents tendered to Ryde Local Court said Mr Woodger 
dropped off a passenger in Marsfield shortly after 3am on 
Wednesday. His GPS tracking system went dead a short time 
later.

Police are attempting to work out what happened in the hours 
before his taxi failed to stop when it hit a garbage truck in 
Eastwood about 5.45am.

Two photographs from the cab's security camera show a man 
wearing a baseball cap sitting in the back seat at 3.17am and 
3.59am.

Gu, who had injuries to his fingers, allegedly admitted to police 
that he owned the knife found in the cab, but denied that the 
other items belonged to him.

Police said Gu was arrested trying to hide bloodstained clothing 
and knives at Macquarie University on Thursday at about 
12.30am.

Mr Woodger's family have revealed the grandfather-of-ten had 
been involved with surf life saving for more than 30 years, and 
established the Camden Haven surf life saving club on the NSW 
mid north coast.

Stewart Woodger said he had been concerned about his father 
driving taxis late at night and had urged him to retire, but he 
aspired to the better life the extra dollars could provide.

He was still saving for a holiday in Bali with his wife, Pam, when 
it appears his life was brutally cut short.

Mr Woodger's only daughter, Lynne Bourke, said it was her 
seven-year-old twin girls' birthday on Friday and they didn't know 
why "poppy" couldn't come to their party.

Gu has been remanded in custody to face Central Local Court on 
June 25.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Sydney Morning Herald
(Sydney, Australia)
June 23, 2007

Police locate Woodger's body

The body of a Sydney taxi driver has been found on a vacant block, 
three days after his abandoned cab was discovered with bloodied 
clothes, a knife, tomahawk and gaffer tape inside.

The body of Robert Woodger, 67 was found near the intersection of 
Balaclava and Blaxland roads less than 2km from the street in 
Eastwood where his abandoned cab was found about 6.15am (AEST) on 
Wednesday.

Police have sectioned off the area in Sydney's north west as their 
murder investigation continues.

A Chinese student, Xinfei Gu, 22, of Eastwood, has been charged with 
Mr Woodger's murder.

When his car was found on Wednesday the head rest had knife slashes 
giving the Woodger family, little hope that he would be found alive.

Son Stewart Woodger had appealed for community assistance to find his 
father's body yesterday and their fears were confirmed just before 
3pm (AEST) today.

"The good side of this is that we can now lay him to rest and put our 
last three days of horror behind us," Stewart told the Nine Network 
tonight.

NSW police had set up Strike Force Russellton to investigate Mr 
Woodger's disappearance and its officers found the body in grassland 
on the vacant block in Eastwood this afternoon.

Police said the dead man has yet to be formally identified, and a 
report would be prepared for the coroner.

The Woodger family was consoled by Prime Minister John Howard earlier 
today, after he bumped into them at an Eastwood shopping centre in 
his electorate of Bennelong.

"For the head of the country to take two minutes out of his busy 
schedule to give us a hug, and give us a cuddle, and to say 'look we 
have the best people in Australia on the job'," Stewart said.

Grieving widow Pam added: "We thank everyone for their support. There 
is so much love."

Mr Woodger lived in Coogee and was a grandfather of ten. He had been 
involved with surf life saving for more than 30 years.

He was driving cabs late at night, despite the family's safety 
concerns, to save for a holiday in Bali with Pam.

Police said Gu was arrested trying to hide bloodstained clothing and 
knives at Macquarie University on Thursday about 12.30am.

Documents tendered to Ryde Local Court said Mr Woodger dropped off a 
passenger in Marsfield shortly after 3am (AEST on Wednesday. His GPS 
tracking system went dead a short time later.

Police are attempting to work out what happened in the hours before 
his taxi failed to stop when it hit a garbage truck in Eastwood about 
5.45am (AEST).

Two photographs from the cab's security camera show a man wearing a 
baseball cap sitting in the backseat at 3.17am and 3.59am (AEST).

Gu, who had injuries to his fingers, allegedly admitted to police 
that he owned the knife found in the cab, but denied that the other 
items belonged to him.

Gu has been remanded in custody to face Central Local Court on Monday.

AAP

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Wauchope Gazatte
June 28, 2007
 
Murdered taxi driver had many local links 

THE death of Sydney taxi driver Bob Woodger has sent shockwaves through 
members of the Wauchope community. 

According to the Sydney Morning Herald website Mr Woodger's abandoned 
cab was found early on Wednesday morning in Eastwood along with bloodied 
clothes, a knife, and tomahawk and gaffer tape inside. 

A Chinese student, Xinfei Gu, 22, of Eastwood, has been charged with 
Mr Woodger's murder. 

The 67 year old Coogee resident was a major influence at the Wauchope-Bonny 
Hills surf life saving club in the 80's and established the Camden Haven 
surf life saving club. 

Mr Woodger had been involved with surf life saving for more than thirty 
years and coached successful rescue and resuscitation teams at Wauchope-
Bonny Hills as well as other clubs. 

Bob Woodger was first involved as a parent with WBHSLSC when his daughter 
Lyn gained her Bronze Medallion in 1980. 

He then went on to be a 'Team Manager' of the very successful WBH 4x 
Person & 5 x Person R&R Teams from 1980 -1985. 

With Coach ‘Chalkie' Bob Smith the two had an impressive record of wins 
at Country/State and Australian Surf Carnivals from Evans Head NSW, to 
Moana SA, Clifton Beach Tasmania and Pt Leo Victoria. 

Wauchope Bonny Hills Surf Club member Leanne Goggin said that Mr Woodger's 
efforts at the club were a major impact during his time there. 

"Bob was a wonderful, generous, caring man who always had a kind word for 
everyone," she said. 

"When the ‘going got tough' at training Bob was always the one who would 
‘diffuse' the situation 

"Many WBHSLSC members in the eighties would remember Bob fondly. 

He will be sadly missed by all who knew him," she said. 

When Bob & his wife Pam left the area they joined Bronte SLSC. 

Bob went on to gain coaching qualifications & over a ten year period from 
1996 – 2006 he was a very successful coach of Australian Medallist ‘R' 
Teams. 

Bob became the Official Commander for the R&R Events at Australian Titles 
with SLS. 

His three children were educated at Wauchope High. 

He was driving cabs late at night, despite the family's safety concerns, 
to save for a holiday in Bali with Pam. 

Bob Woodger's funeral is to be held on Friday 29th June at 1pm in Sydney. 
 

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