Chinchilla community mourns loss after cop shooting

Anna Houlahan
Updated December 15 2022 - 6:10pm, first published 3:30pm
The small town of Chinchilla, near where two police officers were ambushed and killed in rural Queensland, will come together in their honour as part of a touching service.

Three victims of the Wieambilla shootings will be honoured during a vigil on Friday night in the small Queensland town of Chinchilla.

The community holds an annual Christmas gathering which, this year, will be dedicated to mourning the loss of Constable Rachel McCrow, Constable Matthew Arnold and Alan Bare who were killed on Monday December 12.

Members of the local community take part in a vigil at Calamvale police station, Calamvale, south of Brisbane, Queensland, Tuesday, December 13, 2022. Constables Matthew Arnold, 26, and Rachel McCrow, 29, died in an ambush and siege at a remote Queensland property. (AAP Image/Jono Searle)
Members of the local community take part in a vigil at Calamvale police station, Calamvale, south of Brisbane, Queensland, Tuesday, December 13, 2022. Constables Matthew Arnold, 26, and Rachel McCrow, 29, died in an ambush and siege at a remote Queensland property. (AAP Image/Jono Searle)

Chinchilla police force has been inundated with support from the community as flowers, letters and cards collect in front of the station with messages of grief from friends and neighbours.

Local businesses have organised a barbeque and the vigil will include a minute's silence to honour the victims and was an opportunity for the community to share discussion and prayer, Chinchilla pastor Lee Dallman told Channel 7.

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"We're going to take some time to talk about the events and have a candlelight vigil," pastor Dallman said.

"We're going through the grieving process together."

Children lay flowers in memory of the fallen officers at Chinchilla Police station in Queensland, Tuesday, December 13, 2022. Police have shot dead three people at a remote property on Queensland's Darling Downs after an ambush in which two officers and a bystander were killed. (AAP Image/Jason O'Brien)
Children lay flowers in memory of the fallen officers at Chinchilla Police station in Queensland, Tuesday, December 13, 2022. Police have shot dead three people at a remote property on Queensland's Darling Downs after an ambush in which two officers and a bystander were killed. (AAP Image/Jason O'Brien)

Pastor Dallman, of the Country Hope Church, has invited the community to gather from 5pm on Friday December 16.

Tributes to the slain constables have continued around Australia with buildings lit by blue light after sunset, including Victoria's police academy in Glen Waverley and the Sydney Opera House.

Police forces around Australia have moved their flags to half-mast.

Wieambilla's local MP David Littleproud condemned the attack and paid tribute to the three killed.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition leader Peter Dutton also expressed their sadness over the shooting.

Anna Houlahan

Anna Houlahan

Journalist

Reach out with news or updates to anna.houlahan@austcommunitymedia.com.au