Community members are concerned warning signs may have been ignored in the lead up to the deaths of two young brothers. The bodies of the boys aged six and seven were found at their home in the state's central west on Monday. Their grandmother has been arrested and transferred to a mental health facility.
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00:00Heartfelt tributes to two young lives tragically lost.
00:06The bodies of two boys aged six and seven were found in their home in Coonabarabran on Monday.
00:12Their grandmother, who was their sole carer, was arrested at the scene after attempting self-harm.
00:17The brothers are being remembered as passionate little boys who loved their sport.
00:22A tragedy like this has a huge impact in any community, but particularly in small communities
00:28because everyone's so tight-knit.
00:31Both boys had complex medical needs and had been in the care of their grandmother
00:35for several years after their parents could no longer look after them.
00:39The 66-year-old woman was in regular contact with a caseworker,
00:43but those who knew her say there were signs she was struggling.
00:46I personally could see her struggle.
00:50I described the boys as little firecrackers and that's what they were.
00:55You know, to be a single carer of a kid in care is challenging, let alone having two kids.
01:02The family moved to the small town with a population of 3,500 11 months ago.
01:07Advocates are concerned calls for help may have gone ignored.
01:11The ABC contacted the Department of Communities and Justice for comment.
01:15She moved here for the kids to have a quieter life.
01:18But that's also probably come with challenges of social isolation.
01:23I think we are under-resourced without this tragedy.
01:26You know, rural towns are under-resourced.
01:28The woman has been transferred to a mental health facility.
01:31Police say she'll likely face serious charges once released.
01:35A community trying to make sense of violence so close to home.
01:39The police leave her face to different situations after the kids.
01:43Then, the police leave her face to a party.
01:45To be honest, it's often too good stories that they have a lot of times.
01:48The police leave her face to a party.
01:49To be honest, it's often more new than we can find out.
01:51The police quelques mechanisms can be seen by other people who are still looking for
01:53for the people.
01:54To be honest, it's often particularly important.