General News
30 March, 2025
Community mourns 'little cowgirl'
Family and friends of Aleece Shearer are mourning the loss of her daughter after the Warracknabeal toddler drowned in a dam on Sunday, March 23.
Ms Shearer and her daughter, 2, were visiting a friend's property at Whroo, near Nagambie, when the incident occured.
A close family friend spoke with Wimmera Mallee News, remembering Mackenzie as "completely fearless".
"I saw her nearly every day for the last maybe eight months," Nikki Hotker said, adding that Ms Shearer kept horses on her farm.
"Mackenzie spent a lot of time in our house yard playing with our grandchildren’s toys and sandpit.
"She loved hanging out with our German Shepherd.
"She absolutely adored all animals, particularly horses – she had her own Shetland pony called Princess."
Mrs Hotker said Mackenzie was cheeky and not afraid of anything.
"Her mum was restoring our old stables and Mackenzie was always with her, helping and assisting with the horses," she said.
"She was an adventurous, sassy, fearless girl who has been tragically taken too soon."
Mrs Hotker said Mackenzie was born in Western Australia, moving with her mother to Warracknabeal about 14 months ago so that Ms Shearer could become a carer for her father, who is bed-bound.
Ms Shearer has remembered her daughter as a "beautiful little cowgirl".
As Ms Shearer fed chickens at the property on Sunday, Mackenzie was in an area that was fenced-off and secure.
Regardless, in just a few minutes she disappeared from sight.
Ms Shearer began frantically searching the property before finding her daughter in a dam on a nearby property, unconscious.
She had climbed numerous fences, including one six foot high.
Despite Ms Shearer's best efforts, Mackenzie could not be saved.
Mrs Hotker has set up a GoFundMe campaign for Ms Shearer to assist with Mackenzie's funeral.
"As a single mum and carer for her dad, things are difficult enough," Mrs Hotker said.
"There will be expenses involved in laying little Mackenzie to rest and at times like this we all feel so useless that there’s nothing we can do.
"No amount of money will bring Mackenzie back or heal Aleece’s broken heart but I’m hoping this gesture on behalf of the community will ease some pressures for her."
Donations can be made through: https://gofund.me/b69dd86c