Local community reeling after news of 'murder suicide' tragedy
Margaret River is a town in mourning on Friday night after the details of a horrific family tragedy emerged.
Four children were among seven people found dead in a suspected murder-suicide at a rural property south of Perth on Friday morning.
It’s understood three generations of the same family lived at Forever Dreaming Farm in the small, tight-knit community of Osmington, north east of Margaret River.
The local shire has organised a free support service with trained counsellors where the townspeople of Margaret River are welcome to gather and grieve.
While most people were still asleep on Friday morning, the unimaginable was unfolding.
Neighbours reported hearing gun shots around 4am, but said roo shooting was common in the area.
Then, slowly, the gravity of the situation began filtering out.
“We all know each other one way or another and we’re all linked as a community – a very active community, and it’s just going to have a ripple effect through our community”, Augusta-Margaret River shire president Pam Townshend said.
Over the next three days, counsellors will be on hand at the Margaret River Community Resource Centre between 1pm and 3pm.
“We well understand that these tragedies have a lasting impact,” WA Police Commissioner Chris Dawson said.
“We’ll do as much as we can from a police investigation point of view, but importantly communities rally together in such tragedies and I’m confident that the community will rally together.”
It’s not the first time the Margaret River community has been faced with tragedy.
Seven members of one family dead in ‘murder-suicide’ tragedy
The phone call that led police to tragedy where seven people died
Nine people, including four children, were killed 22 years ago in a cliff collapse during a surf carnival in nearby Gracetown.
In 2011, 39 homes were destroyed and dozens more damaged when fires ripped through the area.
In the past 14 years, there have been three fatal shark attacks and just last month there were two very close calls.
In January, a 75-year-old man was allegedly murdered in a fight at a Margaret River home.
“You see community members really, really coming together in a way to support each other and it’s very beautiful and it’s so sad that it’s prompted by this terrible tragedy,” Ms Townshend said.
As police investigate, minds are turning as to what could bring someone to carry out the horrific crime.
A local resident who did not want to be named said the family was “hugely respected” and “a great asset to the community”.
“It’s just absolutely really shocking,” he told AAP.
“I can’t imagine just how disturbed someone is, how they could do that.”
Ms Townshend said Osmington Road, where the incident unfolded, was home to a particularly tight sub-community.
“There’s a lot of giving each other vegetables, cooking each other meals, looking after each other when they’re ill – very connected in deep ways,” she told AAP.
“It just shows violence is throughout a society, we’re not immune down here.”
Neil Garnett, who lives in Perth but has another home neighbouring the family, said he did not know the family well but they ran a “nice and tidy” farm.
“In the country, people want to be by themselves and you respect that,” he told AAP.
With a population of 135, Osmington consists of a handful of roads, farms, vineyards, holiday chalets and horse studs.
Near the tourism hotspot of Margaret River, it also has luxury accommodation and boutique dining.
“It’s incredibly sad,” Mr Garnett said.
“This is a beautiful part of the world. It’s sleepy, it’s quiet.”
Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467.
