Community mourns the loss of young ECEC educator

The communities of Euroa and Longwood, in Northern Victoria, are mourning the loss of young early childhood educator Cassie Rawlings, who passed away last week as the result of a motor vehicle accident. 

Ms Rawlings was studying for her Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) and had previously worked for Goodstart Early Learning Euroa. 

The 18 year old was described by her family as “a deeply loved daughter” who “lit up every room she walked into.”

“She was a typical 18 year old girl,” aunt Charlene Cullen shared with local news source The Euroa Gazette.

“Always smiling and laughing.” 

The accident took place on the Longwood-Pranjip Road in Pranjip late on Saturday morning.

“It’s heartbreaking, what’s happened to her, because she had her full life ahead of her,” Ms Cullen said. 

Ms Rawlings was strongly connected to the Longwood Football Netball Club (LFNC), both as a player and as the coach of the club’s under 11 team.

The club opened its doors for the community to gather in the aftermath of the accident, sharing memories and consoling one another. 

LFNC opened its doors on Monday night for the community to gather, support each other and remember Cassie.

“She was a lovely, happy ‘people person’,” LFNC president Ricki Shiner told the Gazette. 

“She had a beautiful knack with the children”.

Community members have donated to an online fundraiser for the Rawlings family to take time off work to deal with the loss, started by Cassie’s aunt, Ms Cullen.

Local coverage of this story is available here. 

The Sector extends sympathy to those touched by the loss of Ms Rawlings.