“This week there’s a lot of people doing it tough. In Leeton and beyond. They’re grieving for a friend, a teacher, a colleague, a Leetonian.”
My adopted town has made headlines this week for a devastating reason, the loss of a friend and teacher.
I didn’t know Steph, but the community is grieving right now, and I ache for the community I once called home.
Leeton is the heart of rice country, in the NSW Riverina, 579kms from Sydney and 457kms from Melbourne. It’s a beautiful town, with art deco buildings, carefully cared for garden beds, surrounded by paddocks of rice, oranges and wine grapes. While the population sits at around 7000, many more proudly call themselves “Leetonians”.
The town punches above its weight in generosity. It gathers around to support its own, with most cake stalls sold out, local fundraisers well supported, and newcomers welcomed with open arms.
This is a town that has done it tough through droughts, celebrated when rain returned and the rice mills in the district reopened.
Related: Stephanie Scott’s family should be preparing for a wedding, not a funeral.
The town’s heritage is its pride. Its people are encouraged to succeed and celebrated when they do. It’s a town where people are connected, where nobody grieves alone. The whole town is on your side.
This week there’s a lot of people doing it tough. In Leeton and beyond. They’re grieving for a friend, a teacher, a colleague, a Leetonian.
Top Comments
Today the Leeton community will join Steph's family in Mountford Park to share a picnic and her memory. If you're in the region, dress in yellow, pack a picnic, grab your mates and please show your support. Many others of us are there in spirit. So much love to Aaron and her loved ones today.
My parents grew up in Leeton, I have grandparents, uncles, aunties, cousins and friends who still live there. This unfathomable crime has rocked a family, a town, a region, a state and a country. Leeton is a town where you walk down the Main Street and everybody grabs your attention with a 'g'day' or a 'how ya going?'. Stephanie Scott was once one of those people, she became a victim whilst trying to help another teacher. It is the helping a mate attitude that Leeton and Australians around the country should be known for and celebrated for, rather a town and a country is in mourning over a daughter, fiancé, sister and friend we are feel we have known. Rest in Peace Stephanie Scott. As a fellow 20-something year old woman, I will stand tall and continue to respect and honour your selflessness