The parents of Gilgandra wept as one yesterday for a little girl lost and then found dead in the Castlereagh River.
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The discovery of her body “on top of the water” about 9am yesterday allowed a town-in-waiting to release emotion that had been building since the search for the four-year-old began late on Tuesday afternoon.
A stoic chaplain during the search, Gilgandra’s Anglican priest Michael Birch yesterday stumbled when speaking of the “love” the community is feeling for the child’s family.
Residents held the parents of the little girl in their hearts, he said.
In a quiet voice, Gilgandra mayor Doug Batten said he was “hollow”, before confirming the launch of a community appeal in support of the family.
“There’s always that glimmer of hope, then reality sets in, doesn’t it,” he said.
Orana Local Area Command Inspector Matt Scott, in charge of the search and the continuing investigation into the child’s death, conducted an “operational debriefing” by the river after the body was found.
“Each agency and organisation will look to the welfare of its members,” he said.
“There wouldn’t be many not affected in this situation.”
Inspector Scott said the child’s “distraught” family had maintained a vigil by the river for the duration of the search.
Police Media report that the child was with her parents on the riverbank about 5pm on Tuesday when she went missing.
A rapidly-launched search included police, the State Emergency Service, NSW Rural Fire Service, Volunteer Rescue Association, NSW Ambulance and NSW Fire Brigades from Gilgandra, Dubbo and Coonamble.
Police divers and a Polair helicopter also were called in to the operation that “went to plan”.
Inspector Scott said the body was found “on top of the water”, about 800 metres downstream of the bridge on the Newell Highway.
Detectives and forensic experts were yesterday at the scene of the child’s disappearance, south of the bridge.
Police, Reverend Birch and Cr Batten have separately applauded the searchers and the Gilgandra community’s endless offers of help in the past few days.
The community appeal will run for a week with donations accepted at shire headquarters in Warren Road, along with the Government Access Centre and the Bendigo Bank, both in Miller Street.
Donations can also be sent to Gilgandra Shire Council at PO Box 23 Gilgandra.
Police are yet to release the name of the child whose cause of death will be determined by the NSW Coroner.
