Wx that day was what we here call a "dry change", that is a front with little cloud and negligible precipitation. "Crap weather" in as much as it was very windy and rough.
Anna Bay, shore side of the accident, population around 4000, well lit. One of five such settlements within a 5 Nm radius.
To the immediate front at 15 Nm, Newcastle, population 320,000, also well lit. About 7 Nm wide viewed from the NE, a horizon in its own right.
I would respectfully suggest a VFR clearance through the zone would not have been available, had VMC conditions not been conducive.
Did I fly that day? Nope. Too rough. And I wasn't even downwind of the Blue Mountains.