Heartbroken Queensland community of Juanita Bendel and Ava Cole farewell farming pair

The heartbroken community of a mother and 10-year-old daughter, who were killed in a horror double electrocution, have farwelled the pair in a moving funeral service.

Juanita Bendel, 39, her ‘little cowgirl’ Ava were spending New Year’s Eve together at their farm in Tumoulin, near Cairns in far north Queensland, when the tragedy struck.

Hundreds of mourners gathered to farewell the pair in Atherton, south of Cairns, on Friday in a service which detailed the close nature of the family’s bond. 

‘She was the apple of her eye,’ The Cairns Post reported Ms Bendel’s parents wrote as part of a eulogy paying tribute to the pair. 

The community of mother-of-three Juanita Bendel (right) and her 10-year-old daughter, who were killed in a horror double electrocution, have farwelled the pair in a moving funeral service

‘She was dad’s little mate and ‘right-hand man,’ Ava’s grandparents Ray and Rosanne Bendel wrote.

The service also told of both mother and daughter’s love of the land and country life, and the impact the tragedy has had on their tight-knit, rural community.   

Juanita and Ava were killed by a massive electric shock after attaching a charger to a semi-trailer, which had already been attached to an electric fence to keep horses out. 

'She was dad's little mate and 'right-hand man,' Ava's grandparents wrote in their eulogy

‘She was dad’s little mate and ‘right-hand man,’ Ava’s grandparents wrote in their eulogy

Following the tragedy last week, Juanita’s parents issued a heartbreaking statement.

‘Juanita loved country life and animals,’ they said at the time. 

‘Ava also loved country life and always by her mother’s side. Please check to make sure that all sheds and houses have throw-out safety switches.’

Juanita Bendel’s husband Mitchell Cole, who is Ava’s father, returned home at about lunchtime to find the couple’s second eldest daughter in hysterics, before making the grim discovery. 

‘The husband has found them, he had come back for the farm for lunch; he too received a sizeable shock,’ Superintendent Geoff Sheldon told The Cairns Post. 

‘He began to give CPR… paramedics tried to resuscitate both mother and child but efforts were negative.’ 

Both Ms Bendel, who ran a childcare centre at nearby Ravenshoe, and her daughter were pronounced dead at the scene. 

Ms Bendel ran a childcare centre at nearby Ravenshoe and was mother to three young girls 

Ms Bendel ran a childcare centre at nearby Ravenshoe and was mother to three young girls 

Supt Sheldon said the tragedy had rocked the tight-knit community of less than 800 people.   

‘It is just a family tragedy but it is such a broader thing than that,’ he said. 

‘Everybody in the community knew them, came to help at a time of crisis and they have all been horrendously affected by this.’ 

Tablelands Regional Council Mayor Joe Paronella said the deaths came as an ‘awful shock’ to the community.

‘It’s a tragedy… and very sad loss. It just highlights how careful we have to be at all times,’ Cr Paronella told the Cairns Post. 

Daily Mail Australia understands Ava attended the Catholic St Teresa’s Primary School in Ravenshoe and was the eldest of three girls.

Ava Collins, 10, (pictured) and her mother were electrocuted on a rural cattle property, possibly while fixing a cable to a semi-trailer

Ava Collins, 10, (pictured) and her mother were electrocuted on a rural cattle property, possibly while fixing a cable to a semi-trailer

Ava was remembered for being a cowgirl, and poses as one with friends at the Brahman 50th anniversary Cairns Show

Ava was remembered for being a cowgirl, and poses as one with friends at the Brahman 50th anniversary Cairns Show

The married mother lived with her family on a cattle and horse property she owned with her husband. 

Ava’s four-year-old sister Hannah suffered minor injuries from the electrified setup as she went outside to look for them.

Their neighbour Mark Toohey, who arrived at the scene soon after tragedy struck, was distraught at losing those next door to him.

He described the child who lost her life as ‘an active little cowgirl’.

‘The family’s grieving, we’re all grieving, I was on site,’ he told Daily Mail Australia on Wednesday.

‘The chances of this happening are so remote. That’s what makes it especially tragic.’  

Workplace Health and Safety is investigating the incident and police are preparing a report for the Coroner.  

The pair had spent New Year's Eve together at their property in Tumoulin, near Cairns in Far North Queensland 

The pair had spent New Year’s Eve together at their property in Tumoulin, near Cairns in Far North Queensland 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk