The Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s documentary “Exposed: The Ghost Train Fire” details how the Ghost Train at Sydney’s Luna Park caught fire on June 9, 1979, killing seven people. The programme takes the style of a journalist’s inquiry as Caro Meldrum-Hanna seeks to learn the truth about the catastrophe. Caro conducts extensive one-on-one interviews with eyewitnesses, families of the dead, law enforcement officials, and survivors in order to provide a clear picture of the catastrophe that devastated Australia. Jason Holman, a Ghost Train passenger who was just 12 years old at the time of the occurrence, also talks about the experience in front of the cameras. So, let’s examine the specifics and learn where Jason is right now, shall we?
Who Is Jason Holman?
Jason Holman, a Waverley, New South Wales, native, was just 12 years old when the fire broke out. According to the program, he was good friends with Michael Johnson, Jonathan Billings, Seamus Rahilly, Richard Carroll, and other 13-year-old boys. In actuality, Jason had met these guys in school, and despite the fact that they were all a year older than him, the five of them had a remarkable bond. The guys were so closely bonded that even their relatives insisted on it.
Jason and his four pals were given permission to travel to Milsons Point, New South Wales, on June 9, 1979, where they intended to spend the day at Luna Park Sydney. The five couldn’t wait for the excursion to begin because it was meant to be the group’s first outing without adult supervision. The programme also revealed that a number of girls had intended to go with the boys but were dissuaded by their parents at the last minute. As a result, Jason and his companions boarded the bus on their own and travelled to Luna Park.
Jason, Jonathan, Seamus, Richard, and Michael enjoyed their time at Luna Park on their own. Later, Jason said the children were eager to try everything because the tour was unsupervised, and at the very end, they lined up to ride the Ghost Train. Jason was astonished when a train attendant grabbed him up from his carriage and dragged him outdoors in the middle of the Ghost Train journey, even though the experience first seemed regular. He then understood that the entire ride was on fire and that there was no way out for those trapped within. Tragically, that was the last time Jason would ever see his buddies because the fire claimed the lives of all four boys as well as three other victims.
Where Is Jason Holman Today?
Although Jason insisted he did not feel that lucky, the media named him the luckiest youngster alive in the days that followed. Jason continued to struggle with the ghosts of his past even today, as the deaths of his friends continued to haunt him for years. In fact, he addressed the topic that continues to trouble him when he was on the programme and remarked, “My friends died in front of me, consumed in flames. Why am I still alive? Why me? That’s a question I ask myself almost daily.
Even though the tragedy had already occurred by the time Jason reached adulthood, he started looking into the details and eventually met Australian Artist Martin Sharp, who had painted the Luna Park face after the fire. Martin thought there were other outside forces at play even though the authorities said the fire was caused by an electrical failure. Jason gradually started helping Marting with his inquiry, and after the artist’s death in 2013, he seized full control. In fact, when Caro Meldrum-Hanna decided to look into the fire, Jason sent her Martin’s detailed notes as well as thousands of notebooks and papers.
Jason Holman is presently a First Assistant Director at Stornaway Films LTD and lives in Sydney, New South Wales. The fact that Jason has also directed a number of works, including the TV series “Home and Away” and the short film “Broga,” will also be of interest to readers. On top of that, Jason stated during the broadcast that he thinks the fire was intentionally set, adding that he would not stop until the families of the victims knew the truth.
