Woman pulled from dam on Riverland property identified as Sonya Irwin

The victim of a dam tragedy at Balah in the Riverland has been identified as part of a prominent wool-growing family and a keen golfer.

Sonya and James Irwin from Balah Station near Morgan, SA Picture: ANDY ROGERS

The victim of the dam tragedy at Balah in the Riverland has been identified as Sonya Irwin, a keen golfer who is part of a prominent wool-growing family.

Ms Irwin operated Balah Station, alongside her husband James, about 36kms north of Morgan, where emergency services were called to on Wednesday at 5.45pm after reports a woman was found at a dam.

Police said the 62-year-old local woman was recovered from the water and pronounced dead at the scene. It’s understood a vehicle was also found in the dam.

A report is being prepared for the Coroner following the incident.

Ms Irwin was an active member of the Burra Golf Club, starring in local ladies competitions.

The golf club’s website said Ms Irwin shone during a winter ladies’ competition in 2023, blitzing the field to take the best score of the day in the Barossa Valley Open.

Online profiles also reveal the Irwin family have been farming for more than 40 years and spreading their wool-growing operation between their property Bonshaw in the Limestone Coast region and Balah in the pastoral region.

Police say there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding Ms Irwin’s death.

No further details about the incident were available however CFS crews responded to a road crash rescue in the area on Wednesday night.

Originally published as Woman pulled from dam on Riverland property identified as Sonya Irwin