A small Victorian town is reeling after the alleged murder of a ‘kind, caring, community-loving’ woman.
The woman, who has yet to be formally identified, was found dead near a cemetery at Quambatook, northwest Victoria, on Tuesday morning.
Police discovered the body after emergency services were called to a grass fire near the intersection of Cemetery Rd and Knight Rd just after 6.30am.
Homicide Squad detectives arrested a 67-year-old man ‘without incident’ almost 200km away in the Welshmans Reef area on Tuesday morning.
A Victoria Police spokesperson confirmed on Wednesday night that after questioning, the man had been charged with murder.
He was remanded in custody to appear at Bendigo Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.
A local, who wished to remain anonymous, told Daily Mail Australia, the deceased woman was well known for being ‘community focused’ and ‘generous’.
Another local confirmed they knew the deceased woman but would not comment further.
The woman’s body was discovered near the Cemetery Rd and Knight Rd intersection at Quambatook, northwest Victoria
Other locals and community groups took to social media to express grief and also thank the police for their ‘quick response’.
‘The quick response of the Victoria Police yesterday morning and the swiftness and professionalism you all showed as you dealt with this tragic event was unparalleled,’ a Facebook user commented.
‘Thank you to the Victorian Police for your exceptional service.
‘Your actions have brought a sense of hope and justice to a grieving community, and for that, we are immensely thankful.’
Facebook user Brenton Little also posted he was thinking of ‘Quamby’.
‘As a Police Officer and getting to work yesterday to read what had happened, my heart broke,’ he said.
‘Not only for the victim, but for the town I have so much love for.
‘Spending my younger years in Quamby, I know that it’s the amazing people and the support of the town that will help Quamby and wider community heal… thinking of you all.
Quambatook is about 300km northwest of Melbourne
‘Thank you to the Victorian Police for your exceptional service.
‘Your actions have brought a sense of hope and justice to a grieving community, and for that, we are immensely thankful.’
The Quambatook Lions Club and the Quambatook Community Development Association, towhich it’s understood the deceased woman had ties, both announced they would be cancelling Sunday’s Australia Day celebrations ‘due to the tragic events’.
According to a social media post, the two groups will ‘assess in the coming weeks how to come together as a community to recognise residents who help make our town special’.
Gannawarra Shire Council spokesperson said the council is ‘saddened by the tragic event’.
‘Any loss of life in small rural communities such as Quambatook has a wider impact on the area,’ the spokesperson said.
‘Our thoughts are with family members and friends of all affected by this incident.
‘(The) council and local health services including Northern District Community Health and Kerang District Health are collaborating to ensure we have a coordinated response for urgent trauma counselling for those that need it.
‘(The) council will also provide support and resources where we can to assist agencies during the investigation and afterwards.’
Quambatook is about 70km south of Swan Hill and almost 300km northwest of Melbourne.
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