Community’s touching tribute for boys, 6 and 7, found dead at Coonabarabran home

The “incomprehensible” deaths of two boys have sent shockwaves through a small town, with the pair to be remembered as “two firecrackers”.

A candlelit vigil will be held in memory of two boys whose bodies were found in a home in regional northwest NSW.

The bodies of two boys, aged 6 and 7, were found inside a home in Coonabarabran - about 500km outside of Sydney - following reports of a concern for welfare on Monday.

A 66-year-old woman, believed to be the boys’ grandmother, was arrested at the scene and taken to a mental health facility in Orange.

Two boys were found dead inside their home in northwest regional NSW. Picture: NewsWire / Dean Marzolla

Police believe the grandmother had “attempted to self-harm” before she was arrested and taken to hospital.

A NSW Police spokesman told NewsWire the woman remains at a facility and is not under police guard.

Assistant Commissioner Andrew Holland told reporters on Wednesday that she would be returned to police custody upon her release and was “likely to face serious charges”.

The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the NSW community, with it understood the boys had moved into the area about 11 months earlier to live with their grandmother.

“These things shock small country towns.” Assistant Commissioner Holland said.

“The death of one child is bad enough - the death of two is just incomprehensible.”

Assistant Commissioner Andrew Holland said the grandmother would likely face ‘serious charges’ upon her facility release. Picture: NewsWire / Dean Marzolla

Local resident and Warrunbungle Shire councillor Kodi Brady remembered the children as “two firecrackers” who were “amongst it all” at “100 miles an hour”.

He said the boys were “involved in soccer, karate, wild as march hares and cute as buttons”.

The boys’ karate teacher told the ABC she was devastated by the news of their death, and recalled their “very close” bond and love for the classes.

Memorials have been set up near the home where the boys were found. Picture: Supplied

The community will hold a candlelit vigil in their memory at Neilson Park in Coonabarabran.

According to a community social media page, locals will complete a smoke ceremony to “honour and cleanse” and will plant “two small trees” in honour of the two children, which were “kindly donated by a community member”.

NSW Police confirmed they would be present at the vigil on Friday evening.

A vigil will be held for the boys on Friday evening. Picture: Supplied

A memorial has been erected for the two boys, with flowers, soft toys, handwritten notes and a small monument left near the home where they were discovered.

Police said there was no ongoing threat to the community and they were not looking for anyone else in connection to the incident.

Originally published as Community’s touching tribute for boys, 6 and 7, found dead at Coonabarabran home