On a quiet February morning in 1957, the idyllic suburban life of Cannon Hill was shattered in a storm of violence. By the time the smoke cleared on Narella Street, six people lay dead, and one brave policeman’s quick actions had prevented an even greater catastrophe.
A Morning That Turned to Horror
It began like any other day on Narella Street, a dusty strip of modest homes in Brisbane’s Cannon Hill. The children were preparing for school, neighbours were brewing morning tea, and the air was filled with the comforting predictability of suburbia. Then, at 7:30 a.m., the sharp cracks of gunfire broke through the stillness.
Constable John “Jack” Strickfuss, off-duty and enjoying his breakfast just a few doors away, immediately sprang to his feet. A large man with a commanding presence and a reputation for action, Strickfuss grabbed his garden hose and rushed toward the smoke billowing from the Majka household. What he encountered would haunt the community for years to come.
A Deadly Spree
Inside the Majka home, Marian Majka, a Polish immigrant who had survived five years in Nazi labour camps, had snapped. Armed with a .30-calibre American Army carbine, he had stabbed and bludgeoned his wife, Gisela, and their five-year-old daughter, Shirley, before setting the house on fire. But Majka’s rampage wasn’t over.
As flames consumed his home, Majka crossed the street to the Irvine household, where Belinda Irvine and her daughters Annie, 12, and Maureen, 9, were having breakfast with 10-year-old neighbour Lynette Karger. In cold blood, Majka opened fire, killing them all before setting the home ablaze.
Bravery in the Face of Chaos
Smoke and screams filled the air as neighbours began to realise the enormity of the situation. Strickfuss, undeterred by the chaos, attempted to force his way into the Majka home but was driven back by flames. Then he saw the Irvine house, also burning, and sprinted toward it with neighbours Jim Ainsworth and Fred Ganter.
As the men approached, Majka fired at them, sending bullets whizzing past their heads. One struck the sole of Strickfuss’s boot, but he pressed forward. Ainsworth retrieved Strickfuss’s service revolver, and the constable charged into the inferno through the back door.
What Strickfuss found was devastating. Majka was dead, having turned the gun on himself, but the damage had already been done. In the kitchen, Strickfuss discovered the lifeless bodies of Mrs. Irvine, her daughters, and Lynette, their small forms still smouldering from the fire. Amid the carnage, he heard the faint cries of a baby.
Six-month-old Elaine Irvine was found beneath her mother’s body, her tiny foot injured by a bullet and her hair singed by flames. Wrapping her in a blanket, Strickfuss rushed her to safety, yelling for a taxi to take her to the hospital. His decisive actions saved her life.
The Aftermath of Tragedy
By the end of the morning, six lives had been lost: Gisela and Shirley Majka, Belinda, Annie, and Maureen Irvine, and Lynette Karger. Majka’s motives for the attack were never determined, leaving the community and investigators to speculate on what could drive such violence.
The massacre sent shockwaves across Brisbane, shattering the sense of safety and trust that had defined suburban life in the 1950s. Cannon Hill, once a symbol of quiet family living, became synonymous with one of Queensland’s darkest days.
Heroism Recognised
Constable Strickfuss’s courage did not go unnoticed. For his bravery under fire and his unflinching resolve to save lives, he was awarded the George Medal, one of the Commonwealth’s highest honours for civilian bravery. Neighbours Jim Ainsworth and Fred Ganter received Queen’s Commendations for Bravery for their roles in assisting Strickfuss.
The George Medal is one of the Commonwealth’s highest civilian honours for bravery. Instituted by King George VI during World War II, the medal is granted to individuals who display extraordinary courage in non-combat situations. Constable Strickfuss’s actions that day in 1957 became a defining moment in his career and a symbol of selflessness and duty, reminding the community of the extraordinary sacrifices ordinary people are willing to make in times of crisis.
Elaine Irvine, the sole survivor of the Irvine household, recovered from her injuries and later moved to Adelaide with her father, Neil. The Karger family, however, suffered another heartbreak when Lynette’s mother passed away two years later, unable to bear the weight of her loss.
A Lasting Legacy
More than six decades later, the Cannon Hill massacre remains a grim chapter in Brisbane’s history, remembered both for its senseless violence and for the selflessness of those who risked their lives to protect others. Constable Strickfuss retired as a highly respected sergeant and passed away in 2012, leaving behind a legacy of bravery that continues to inspire.
The events of that day are a stark reminder of how quickly lives can be changed forever, but also of the courage that can emerge in the face of unimaginable tragedy.
Published 6-Jan-2024
