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10 months ago
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A tiny Indigenous community has been rocked by the death of a much-loved teacher in a week of tragedy that's also seen two toddlers and a 19-year-old pass away.
Kathryn Williams, affectionately known as KC, died on Monday prompting the central southern Queensland town of Woorabinda, which has a population of about 1,000, to close its school.
Her death comes only days after two toddlers were found dead in a hot car and a 19-year-old female driver fatally crashed into a tree.
Ms Williams passed away in Rockhampton Hospital, about 170km north of Woorabinda, after becoming incapacitated on Saturday.
Much-loved local mother-of-two Kathryn Williams has died in a small community still mourning three other recent deaths
'Our deepest condolences to friends and families of beloved KC (Kathryn Williams),' the Wadja Wadja High School shared on Monday.
'Respectfully, the school will be closed for Tuesday, 14/11/2023.'
Social media tributes to the mother-of-two poured in, with many reflecting on the devastating period for the town.
'Kathryn Williams we supposed to grow old together, idk who I'm gonna yarn with anymore. me and you would sit and talk for hours, I'm forever grateful for that you'd always listen to me,' friend Bowlie Cameron wrote.
Earlier he wrote a heart-wrenching plea for Ms Williams to get better.
'Come on Kathryn Williams our community is looking for some positive news and can you be that news please and just wake up today please,' the post read.
'Our community has gone through so much over these last couple months and we need something good to happen.'
Another close friend Sandra Munns said Ms Williams' death left her 'heart shattered to pieces'.
'I can't believe you're gone my sista. Woorie woods will never be the same anymore. I promise you I will look out and look after your boys.'
'Another Beautiful Soul Gone To Soon.. You had a connection with everyone in this community, You were One of a Kind .. You will be sadly missed by many,' another local wrote.
The small Queensland town of Woorabinda has been rocked by four tragic deaths within four days after two toddlers died in a car and a 19-year-old female driver crashed into a tree
On Friday night two boys were pulled from an unused car in the backyard of a home Woorabinda home.
Relatives found the younger child just before 8pm and called paramedics to take him to hospital. There was a rescue helicopter on standby, but he could not be revived.
Police were inspecting the car more than an hour later, at 9.15pm, when they found the three-year-old in the rear footwell. He was rushed to hospital but also declared dead.
The tragedy is still under investigation, but police believe the boys may have climbed into the vehicle, couldn't get out, and died from 'heat-related stress'.
On Sunday, family members paid tribute to the older boy by gathering all his favourite things, including stuffed toys and a blue blanket decorated with cartoon trucks.
The grieving family of the older boy who died after becoming trapped in a car paid tribute by collecting his favourite things, including a blue blanket decorated with cartoon trucks
Temperatures in Woorabinda hit 34°C on Saturday, but conditions inside vehicles can be up to 30 degrees warmer than outdoors.
The boys were not brothers, but they were related.
Superintendent Darrin Shadlow said during a press conference on Saturday the car was unused and its electric systems, including the windows, did not work.
'At this stage, we're still conducting investigations. They hadn't travelled in that vehicle - it was in the rear yard of the residence,' Supt Shadlow said.
'It appears that it's a tragic accident where the children have, somehow, gotten into the vehicle and had been there for some time.'
A crime scene was declared and detectives are investigating the circumstances of the deaths.
About six hours after the toddlers bodies were found, 19-year-old Miriam Grace Kemp died when her car ploughed into a tree on Crane Avenue in Kawana, about two hours north-east.
Miriam Kemp, 19, died in a car accident about 3am on Saturday. Her family lives in Woorabinda
Woorabinda is a small Indigenous community in Central Queensland, located 170km southwest of Rockhampton
She went to Rockhampton High School, but her family live in Woorabinda.
Daily Mail Australia understands the teenager was involved in an altercation with several others just before 3am on Saturday.
She jumped in a Holden Berlina with her friend, 17, and crashed into a tree.
The pair got out of the car and called an ambulance, but Miriam died from her injuries before they arrived.
Her friend was taken to Rockhampton Hospital but has since been discharged.
Locals were devastated over the triple-tragedy.
'Heart aches for the whole community Woorabinda this is too sad waking up look straight on Facebook seeing all this,' one person wrote on social media.
'Woorabinda thinking of community too much lost.'
Another said: 'Have no words just sending out some love to my people in Woorabinda feeling heartbroken.'
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