General News
16 July, 2026
Community grieving loss of a young life
The response was typical of all our local towns - community underpinned with a strength and resilience to keep everyone strong.
IT COULD have been another typical mid-winter Friday in Donald as the town prepared for the next day’s coming together cheering its footballers, netballers and hockey players.
Selected football teams for the Royals’ North Central league clash against Charlton had been put in shop windows – the names of local sporting heroes who would fly the town flag.
But last Friday was no normal end of the week in the tight-knit community.
Police vehicles were coming in and out of town as they had for several days. Police and volunteers from State Emergency Service units from across North Central had been searching young Layla Jeffrey who had last been seen days before.
Officers walked the Wood Street footpaths, passing those very shops where locals had stopped to check out the weekend football teams.
The same main street and shops where residents were now supporting each other in conversation and gesture as news filtered through the town that a teenager had been arrested over the death of Layla.
People expressing anguish and sorrow – and yes, anger that their tight-knit North town had been rocked.
The response was typical of all our local towns - community underpinned with a strength and resilience to keep everyone strong. Local councillor Charmaine Delaney showing the compassion and understanding.
Nelia Allen said: “(This is the) saddest thing I heard. Unthinkable. Never seen anything like this in my 43 years here living in this beautiful place.”
At the nearby police station, overlooking the Richardson River where the search for information was continuing into the afternoon, mounted police worked with detectives, police and SES combing the river flats. Throughout the day, police darted to other properties in town.
Police were walking up from the river flats carrying bags as detectives prepared for a media conference and Cr Delaney was joined by Mayor Graeme Milne.
The councillors gave a local, human face to this tragedy with sensitivity and surety, there for the community. By nightfall, the Donald Football Club was encouraging players and supporters to wear pink in tribute to Layla when they arrived at Charlton Park the next day.
Tributes were being posted online. A shrine to the young life lost being created near the river.
The words shared by Donald Agricultural and Pastoral Society were perhaps the most poignant.
“Our hearts remain heavy as our community continues to grieve the heartbreaking loss of Layla Jeffery. We extend our heartfelt condolences to Layla’s family, friends and everyone whose lives she touched. There are no words that can ease the pain of such an unimaginable loss, but we hope they know they are surrounded by the love and support of an entire community.
“Like so many across our district, we have been deeply affected by this tragedy. In a close-knit community like Donald, the loss of one of our own is felt by us all.
“It has reminded us how precious life is, how important it is to look after one another, and how strong our community can be when we come together with compassion, kindness and support.”
Read More: Local