Community mourns the loss of Columba Catholic College student

A Charters Towers schoolgirl killed in a tragic farm accident is being remembered as a girl with ‘an indomitable spirit’.

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A Charters Towers schoolgirl killed in a tragic farm accident is being remembered as a girl with ‘an indomitable spirit’.

Mackenzie Guild, 15, was killed and her sister Charlie, 11, injured when they were helping tow a bogged vehicle at their family cattle property Niall Station, about 170km north of Charters Towers.

The tragedy has shattered the tight-knit town of Charters Towers where the girls went to school at Columba Catholic College.

Principal Candi Dempster said the loss of Mackenzie was heartbreaking.

She said it had sent shockwaves through the school community and would be felt for a long time to come.

“Mackenzie had a sense of hope, positivity and a ‘have a go nature’ at every opportunity presented to her.”

A spokesman from Queensland Police said the two sisters had been sitting in the tray of a ute helping to tow a bogged vehicle about 10pm on Friday when the snatch rope between the cars snapped, and struck Mackenzie in the chest.

She died at the scene.

Her younger sister Charlie, 11 was flown to Townsville University Hospital where she remains in a stable condition.

Ms Dempster said Mackenzie and her family were a big part of the school community.

Mackenzie’s twin sister Courtney and older sister Georgia were also boarding students at the college and Charlie was due to join them when she began Year 7 next year.

Ms Dempster said she’d been in contact with Mackenzie’s parents Alisha and James who had shown “incredible strength” during such a traumatic time.

“Alisha is just a very capable, bubbly woman who is being very stoic for her family in knowing that Mackenzie touched the lives of so many,” Ms Dempster said.

“Just like her mum, Mackenzie had that same spirit, an indomitable spirit.

“She was so comfortable in her own skin. She’s one of those characters that actually lights up the room.”

Ms Dempster said as unfathomable as this tragedy was, they were all grateful for knowing Mackenzie.

She said grief support would be available for school staff, students and their parents through the college pastoral care team, and parish priest.

Ms Dempster said Columba Catholic College would look to honour Mackenzie in a special service with the involvement of her sisters, friends and parents some time next term when students returned.

Originally published as Community mourns the loss of Columba Catholic College student