Cultivating Murder is a new feature documentary that tells the heart-rending story of the murder of Glen Turner, a public servant working for the Office of Environment and Heritage, who was gunned down on the side of a public road in Croppa Creek, 40 kilometers from Moree in 2014.

It will be shown at Charles Sturt University in Bathurst on Tuesday September 12 at 6.30pm (reception) ahead of a 7pm screening. Film maker Gregory Miller will introduce the film.

It will be screened in building 1292 on the Bathurst campus, formerly known as “S2” on the corner of Ordnance Road and Village Drive, in Lecture Theatre 223.

Background

Glen Turner was investigating illegal land clearing when he was murdered, and since his death we have seen the NSW Government throw out the Native Vegetation Act and replace it with legislation that will allow even greater broadscale land clearing to occur, much as it has in Queensland.

This film offers an insight into what large farming concerns and agribusiness see as the future and it does not include responsible land management and conservation of the natural environment. It reveals the pressure of recent rapid expansion in agribusiness as the laws protecting the environment are weakened across Australia.

The killer, Ian Turnbull, a wealthy NSW rural producer, had previously been prosecuted for illegal land clearing. During the murder trial Turnbull pleaded not guilty on the grounds of  “substantial impairment” claiming the Office of Environment and Heritage was bankrupting his family agribusiness, and as a result, he was suffering acute depression. In court, both claims were were shown to be untrue. Ian Turnbull (82) died on Monday 27th March in Hospital while serving a 35 year sentence for the murder of Glen Turner.

The film tells the story of four people who are deeply affected by the murder:

Alison McKenzie, Glen’s partner who is left alone with their two children and is concerned that the killer may escape a just punishment.

Fran Pearce, Glen’s younger sister, who joins Alison as they attend the Supreme Court trial of Ian Turnbull.  The two women struggle with personal grief as they attend each day of the murder trial in Sydney to show the judge, defense and the media that they want justice for Glen.

Alaine Anderson, a farmer in Croppa Creek and neighbour of the killer Ian Turnbull. She has known the Turnbulls for years but is now concerned that the community has deeply divided.

Phil Spark, an environmental consultant, who has taken it upon himself, despite obvious danger, to investigate cases of broadscale land-clearing when the government agencies fail to do so.

The screening is hosted in Bathurst by Bathurst Community Climate Action Network in collaboration with Charles Sturt University and Film Projects.