Cleo Smith found: Regions rejoice at youngster’s return in testament to how country towns support one another

“My name is Cleo.” The words that brought tears across the country as the news spread that missing four-year-old Cleo Smith was found alive. Bright hazel eyes, bouncy blonde pigtails and a beaming little smile make Cleo the most recognised little girl in Western Australia at the moment. The youngster’s disappearance rocked communities Statewide and hit close to home for those watching it unfold from across the world. Cleo’s sweet smiling picture is plastered in the window of almost every shopfront in Carnarvon and missing child stickers cling to the rear of most vehicles driving around the small town. But early Wednesday morning, police announced the little girl had been found and reunited with her family. Having spent the past week in Carnarvon covering little Cleo’s suspected abduction, I have witnessed first hand the heartbreaking impact of her disappearance. Locals described the youngster as a “happy kid” and “beautiful little girl” and said the situation was a “mother’s worst nightmare”. It left the town reeling for more than two weeks as school mates, friends and community members struggled to grapple with something as terrible as a suspected abduction happening at a spot so many had fond childhood memories of. Wednesday’s news is the best outcome we could have hoped for. Social media was flooded with support for the family and town as the world welcomed the news that the sweet girl was back with her family. Cleo’s mum Ellie Smith shared the news on Instagram with the caption “Our family is whole again”. Carnarvon spent 18 days with darkness hovering over the town but the light has finally broken through. The experience also highlighted the unwavering strength present in regional towns. Locals rushed to support stepfather Jake Gliddon and Ms Smith from the moment they heard something was awry— lending helicopters and jumping on quad bikes to join the search, distributing missing child stickers, holding vigils and setting up a Go Fund Me, which has raised $87,000. They found strength in their community and shouldered their distress together to pull one another out of despair and into the light of hope. It’s a sentiment echoed across the regions, as country towns boosted demand for missing child posters far from where Cleo was last seen in a testament to how regional WA can come together when loved ones are suffering. The Quobba Blowholes are 1300km away from Bunbury, but our pocket of the world is elated to know Cleo is home.