A man has appeared in court charged with murder over the death of a woman in the small northern Victorian town of Quambatook. Merril Kelly was an active member of the local community, and her death has left the town reeling.
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00:00A simple floral tribute sits outside the Quambatook home of Meryl Callie.
00:07She was the backbone of the community.
00:10Meryl was the gem of the society. She was involved with everything.
00:13The long-time Quambatook resident worked at the local swimming pool
00:16and was secretary of Quambatook's development organisation
00:19and was involved in several community groups.
00:23If she saw someone struggling and could, she would help
00:26and she dedicated almost all of her time to the community in Quambatook.
00:31The small town of just over 200 people awoke on Tuesday
00:35to the news police had found her body burnt near the local cemetery.
00:3967-year-old Quambatook man, Brian Barnes,
00:42appeared in the Bendigo Magistrates Court this morning charged with murder.
00:46Barnes posted videos on social media this week
00:49where he talked about a dispute over some plumbing work
00:52he'd done at the swimming pool where Meryl Callie worked.
00:55The feeling among residents I've spoken to in Quambatook
00:58is one of sadness and shock
01:01with the Lions Club cancelling Australia Day events
01:04saying it's no time for celebrations.
01:07The Gunawarra Shire Council issued a statement
01:10saying any loss of life in small rural communities such as Quambatook
01:14has a wider impact on the area
01:17while Northern District Community Health
01:19said the loss of their life member has shaken the community.
01:23Just a lovely person and she's always nice
01:26and she was always involved and, you know, yeah.
01:30Barnes will be held in custody and returned to court in April.