‘Every day should be R U OK? Day’: Tributes flow for young North Tassie farmer
Just weeks before her tragic death, Catie Loane spoke about her passion for her family farm, saying “it is definitely something that I would like to pass down to my own children”. Read her heartbreaking last interview >>
Tasmania
Don't miss out on the headlines from Tasmania. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The heartbroken parents of a young Tasmanian farmer says “every day should be RU OK? Day” after her tragic death rocked a tight-knit community.
Nineteen-year-old Caitlyn Loane was known by many across the state as a trailblazer for young women in Tasmania’s agricultural industry, a fourth-generation farmer following in her father’s footsteps.
“She was a lovely, crazy young woman who was an invaluable member of our family,” her father Phillip Loane told the Mercury.
“Words can’t describe our loss.”
Her family said she leaves behind a lasting legacy for young people in the agricultural industry and will remember her for her nurturing and caring nature.
“Her smile lit up the room,” mum Richele said.
“She wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty — in some photos she has mud up to her knees.”
The young woman worked on her family’s 600-hectare Latrobe property as a livestock manager for Dunroan Shorthorns.
“The cattle were her passion,” Mrs Loane said.
“She was so talented and she loved mentoring younger people.”
Catie spoke with TasWeekend last month when we caught up with her at Agfest Tasmania, where she was the overseer of young cattle judges.
“In 2018, I realised that school wasn’t giving me the skills and experience I needed, so I applied to the Sunday Creek Cattle Station, in the Northern Territory, so I could gain experience and learn more,” Catie said at the time.
“Up there the properties are huge and they muster with helicopters and on horseback.
“It was character building and I had to adopt a great work ethic which I apply to my own enterprise here at home.”
When we caught up with her, Catie was in the process of planting her first crop — a paddock of peas.
“This will be the first crop in my name and I would like there to be a follow-up crop so I can continue cropping alongside my dad,” Catie says.
“It is very important that I keep the Dunroan family farm for as long as I can keep it and it is definitely something that I would like to pass down to my own children.”
In recent months Catie attracted a big following on TikTok, sharing videos of her life on the farm to over 50,000 followers, some clips attracting over 5 million views.
Her online community continually expressed their admiration for the young girl, flooding her videos with comments describing her as an inspiration to many.
The last video she shared on TikTok was uploaded just days before her death and featured a series of photos of her on the farm — knee-deep in mud, shearing sheep and tagging calves.
“How far would you drive for the girl of your dreams?” Caitie mouths along with the audio, with the next slide captioned: “What about to Tasmania”.
Another recent video showed Catie a far cry from her muddy farm life — dressed in her slick brown jacket, jeans and hat pictured above ready for junior beef competitor judge duties.
“Left the veggie patch for a day of judging at Agfest,” she captioned the clip.
Friends and loved ones have also taken to social media to share their memories and overwhelming love for the teenager described as a “bright, bubbly, beautiful” girl.
“I will never ever forget the fond moments and memories we have together. All the late night chats, late night drives, the cattle handling shows together,” friend Kaycee Heyward shared to Facebook.
A beloved player at Devonport Football Club, the club also posted their condolences on Facebook, sharing their respect for the young footy player.
“The past week has put into context what really matters in life, and has reminded us all that football, as unifying as it is, is just a game after all. The priority of the Devonport Football Club at present is to provide an empathetic, supportive network to all associated with the club, with particular focus on those most affected by the tragic passing of Caitlyn.”
Tasmania’s football and farming community will continue to rally around Catie’s parents and family as they come to terms with losing their bright young daughter.
“Every day should be RU OK? Day,” Mr Loane told the Mercury.
If you or anyone you know needs help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800 or Rural Alive and Well on 1300 HELP MATE (4357 6283).
Swift rescue after historic ship sinks in channel
A couple sailing their historic 20 metre 1958 Pilot Cutter struck danger in the D’Entrecasteaux Channel south of Woodbridge, igniting a rescue as the ship sunk. Here’s what went wrong.
Large field jostled for plum Tasmanian Supreme Court roles
Two judges recently appointed to the bench of the Supreme Court of Tasmania were selected from a hotly contested field of candidates, official government documents reveal.