Bryan was 58 and had relocated from his home in Cairns to prepare for both Talisman Sabre 2013 U.S./Australian military exercises and his & Graeme Dunstan's August "Rocky Ploughshares" trial in Rockhampton following the disarmament of a Tiger Attack helicopter during the Talisman Sabre 2011 military exercises.

Video of the Rocky Ploughshares action for which Bryan and Graeme Dunstan were charged
 http://tinyurl.com/czqu8af

Sympathy and prayer go out to Bryan's wife Margaret and son Joseph.

Cairns obituary
 http://tinyurl.com/cdhd6us

I first heard Bryan before I saw him. I was 17 years old and had been badly beaten up by Queensland police at a banned street march in Brisbane and placed in a cell in the Brisbane watchhouse All demonstrations were banned for several years 1977-82 by an authoritarian Joh Bjelke Petersen led Queensland state government in response to the anti-uranium mining movement. The ban was enforced by a corrupt off-the-leash Queensland police force that has now been long exposed.

I was unable to afford the huge bail placed on me and 9 other folks decided to refuse bail from Saturday afternoon to Monday morning before we appeared before a magistrate. We could not see each other in the other cells but we could yell out to each other. At one point on the Saturday evening I remember this deep droll voice starting to complain about cigarette burns on the carpet in his cell and how his cell television was playing up. Of course carpet and television didn't exist ..... but Bryan was so convincing, he had me sold!

There were thousands who refused to "go along to get along" with the Queensland Bjelke Petersen government and police force during that 1977-82 crackdown. Of the thousands arrested, bashed, raided, framed, harassed, blacklisted during that period, some of us remained "beat up but upbeat" turning towards, exploring and sustaining nonviolent resistance against war and war preparations. As we turned towards the U.S. traditions of the Catholic Worker and Berrigans, Bryan turned to a deep exploration of Gandhi.

Our paths crossed over the next 35 years and it was always a delight to hear Bryan reflect, speak and act. Bryan's laid back Australian demeanour contrasted with my Irish outrage, He was Australia at its best when confronted by injustice - direct, unfazed, courageous.

We were back in the new Brisbane watchhouse together in 1988 for nonviolent resistance to nuclear warship visits - USS New Jersey & HMS Ark Royal.

In response to Australian military involvement in the wars on Iraq & Afghanistan Bryan, Adele Goldie, Jim Dowling and Donna Mulhearn made for the hi tech Australian heart of the beast breaking into Pine Gap.
Vid - Bryan speaking outside Pine Gap
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fISiZwT_X4Y

We are a lot poorer as an active anti-war remnant in this dark time without Bryan.

Sympathy and solidarity to Bryan's wife Margaret, son Joseph and co-defendant Graeme
This poem "Some" by Fr Dan Berrigan SJ speaks to Bryan's long fidelity to the nonviolent struggle for peace and justice
 http://tinyurl.com/cndhvtq