Woorabinda Aboriginal community mourns loss of another beloved member

A Catholic Church sister of two decades says her community is going through one of its hardest times in history as it grieves the loss of tiny boys, a teen and several other well-known faces.

The Welcome to Woorabinda sign following the deaths of two toddlers in the remote Indigenous community. Photo: Geordi Offord

*Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised the following story contains content about people who have died.

A Woorabinda Catholic Church sister of two decades says the community is going through some of its hardest times as it reels from about 10 deaths in two months.

Sister Cecelia said there had also been deaths in Rockhampton, Cherbourg, Palm Island and Yarrabah which had impacted locals.

“I don’t think we have ever had so many deaths in such a space of time,” she said.

“So many of the families are interconnected and it makes it hard.

“That makes about 10 deaths in about two months … so many families are affected.

“The community does need a lot of prayer and healing.”

The local school was closed on Tuesday after in honour of a school worker who passed away.

The huge loss comes just days after two toddlers, aged two and three, tragically died in an unused car in the backyard and well-known teenager Miriam Kemp, 19, was killed in a car crash.

Sister Cecelia said she had spent the past few days answering the phone since the news of the two toddlers broke, with people sharing prayers, condolences and support.

“It’s wonderful to know so many non-Indigenous people from outside of the community are offering their support,” she said.

“It was a real blow with the ‘no’ vote from the (Voice to Parliament) referendum.

“When times get tough like this and sad times happen, you really see what people are like and there is so much support in the community.”

The community has come together and prayers have been shared for all the families involved.

“I really admire them for the way they have gone through and the way they have gone through,” Sister Cecelia said.

She also said until the toddlers’ funerals were held – a process which can’t happen until the police investigation concludes – it would be hard to find closure.

“When there are little children involved … that is so tragic, everyone’s heart goes out to them,” she said.

Wadja Wadja High School in Woorabinda closed for the day and prayers were shared on Tuesday, November 14 as the grief-stricken Aboriginal township grapples with the loss of another beloved community member.