In recent weeks, Wellington has gone through events a community simply shouldn't have to endure.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Two gorgeous little kids are no longer with us, and a young mum and two other children are in a bad way in hospital.
It's a day that Wellington locals will never forget.
It's a day that caused incredible sadness, anger, and misery.
It is incomprehensible that one of the most basic of fun Australian family rituals - a mum taking the kids to the pool on a hot summer's day could end up like this.
And sadly, just days before that, a young Wellington man was killed from knife violence that has left a scar of great sorrow on Wellington, which the victim's family will never fully recover from.
Friends, family and the wider community are not only devastated by his death, but have a genuine sense of confusion on how a perfectly fine young man, in the prime of his life, with so much to offer his community and so much good to bring to society, could possibly be taken from us.
READ ALSO:
It makes no sense and is hopelessly unfair.
Wellington is a strong and resilient community that has a powerful sense of family.
It's a town that backs their own community first and foremost.
You only have to walk down any street of Wellington to see not only the sense of devastating grief on the locals' faces, but also a strong will for positive change.
That will for change is not only driven by the urgency to care for the families of the victims, but also so no other family has to endure the sheer heartache and horror of what has happened recently.
With a tragic event like this, the town's love of family and community could be seen as making the heartache even worse because the more you love - the more you grieve.
In the weeks and months to come, the most obvious of questions will need to be asked.
Local leaders and the community as a whole will need to examine what can be done to stop the decline of basic respect and decency that has led to such horrific outcomes.
I've heard most of what people are talking about around the town. Drug laws, police resources, social services, courts, health facilities and unemployment seem to be at the top of the list of what locals want addressed.
However, that time is not now.
While the whole town mourns, right now, let us all use Wellington's powerful sense of family and community to give us the determination to do whatever we can to comfort the families and friends involved in these awful events.
These people are going through the absolute worst period of their lives.
Be kind to each other. And for Wellington's locals, be proud of the fact you come from Wellington, because the locals are some of the most caring people on the planet.
