FEBRUARY 24, 2015 \ MACEDONRANGES.STARWEEKLY.COM.AU
NEWS + SPORT + PROPERTY GUIDE
Town’s tears for Noah Kyneton residents have been urged to continue to support the family of a 22-month-old boy who was found dead in the back seat of a utility in Acacia Drive about 3pm on Thursday. Community leaders have also asked people not to engage in, or entertain, unhelpful talk on social media. Police had still been unable to speak to the distressed mother of the boy, named Noah, when Star Weekly went to print. Macedon Ranges mayor and Woodend GP Jennifer Anderson said people should refrain from public discussion. ‘‘This is a tragedy and we need to respect people’s privacy,’’ she said. Kyneton Baptist Church minister Simon Burnett encouraged people who knew the family to help where they could. ‘‘This is an important time for the community to come around a hurting family and provide them with love and support, while at the same time giving them the space they need,’’ he said. The house where the vehicle was parked, in a relatively new estate behind Kyneton hospital, is believed to be a privately run family day-care centre. Paramedics, who were called at 2.57pm on Thursday, had to smash a window of the vehicle to gain entry. They performed CPR on Noah for several minutes but were unable to revive him. The temperature in Kyneton reached 31.6 degrees at 3pm on Thursday. Police said it was understood the vehicle had been parked outside the house for only a short time.
Many neighbours stood in their driveways and wept as news spread. Emergency services personnel were also visibly shaken. By Friday morning, flowers had been left on top of the mailbox at the house where the utility had been parked. Around town, feelings about the tragedy were close to the surface. The overwhelming majority of people expressed profound sympathy for those affected. Several parents also admitted to having left their own children in a parked car for short periods.
‘‘
Hug your children. Hug them and never let them go
’’
- Andrew Krespanis
Macedon Ranges police’s Inspector Ryan Irwin said detectives were in the early stages of investigating what happened. He said people should avoid jumping to conclusions. ‘‘Regardless of the circumstances, this is an absolute tragedy for the family, for other people living in the area and for the emergency services who attended.” Police said Noah lived in the Kyneton area with his parents and a sibling. His father took to Twitter late last week to express the family’s devastation. Andrew Krespanis urged parents to love their children. ‘‘I’ll always know I cherished every day. Every laugh, every adventure, every cuddle,’’ he said. ‘‘Hug your children. Hug them and never let them go.’’
(Joe Mastroianni)
By Matt Crossman
Facebook reins in horse lovers Macedon Ranges horse enthusiasts have been quick to jump on a new social media page connecting them with a mix of news, information and equine tips. Macedon Ranges council and volunteers from the Macedon Ranges Equine Industry (REIN) collaborated on the Facebook page, which has attracted almost 250 likes since its launch last month. REIN volunteer and page administrator Tracey Robertson (pictured) works at Eliza Park International at Kerrie and says it’s a great way to keep riders, competitors and trainers informed. Ms Robertson says the page will be extremely valuable in times of disease outbreaks, bushfires and flooding, and it has already helped reunite a horse on the loose with its owner. Users are also able to share photos, competition results and details about coming events. Visit www.facebook.com/MacedonREIN. Matt Crossman
SUMMER COOLING SALE 5 POINT REFRIGERATED DUCTED AIRCONDITIONING FULLY INSTALLED
5 POINT evaporative cooling unit FULLY INSTALLED
$6500
$2999
CONDITIONS APPLY
CONDITIONS APPLY
8/1880 Hume Hwy Campbellfield VIC 3061