ANA ARMSTRONG’S BABY WILL GROW UP KNOWING AN ENTIRE COMMUNITY STOOD BEHIND HIM — INCREDIBLE RESPONSE AFTER MUM’S TRA-GIC D3-ATH
People of Darling Downs rally together after Jana Armstrong’s alleged murdeR
Western Clydesdales co-captains Reeghyn Beardmore and Mersades Lawson will be wearing purple this weekend to raise awareness for domestic violence. (ABC Southern Qld: Aisling Brennan)
In short:
The Darling Downs community is rallying together to support the family of Jana Armstrong, both financially and emotionally.
The 30-year-old mother was allegedly murdered by her ex-partner on July 7.
What’s next?
The Western Clydesdales’ senior women’s rugby league team will be wearing purple ribbons in their hair at this weekend’s game to raise awareness for domestic violence.
The women from the Western Clydesdales’ rugby league team will wear purple ribbons in their hair when they play this weekend.
Team co-captain Mersades Lawson said the small gesture would honour Jana Armstrong and other alleged domestic violence victims across Queensland’s Darling Downs.
“We thought it would be a great way to reach out to the community … the way they’ve supported us,” Ms Lawson said.
Jana Armstrong, 30, was reported missing in Newtown on July 8. (Supplied: Armstrong family)
Ms Armstrong’s former partner, Dharminder Singh, was charged with the murder of the mother after her body was found in bushland an hour north of Toowoomba on Saturday. Ms Singh’s lawyer said he planned to contest the charge.
The 30-year-old was the third woman allegedly killed by a man known to her across the region west of Brisbane in the past 18 months.
The Clydesdales’ gesture comes as thousands of Darling Downs residents share their support for Ms Armstrong’s family.
Faith and Michael Isaacs, with their young son, and Jana Armstrong’s four-month-old baby, have been grateful for the ongoing community support. (ABC Southern Qld: Cindy Wockner)
Her sister, Faith Isaacs, thanked the community for “all their kindness and love and all their generosity”.
“It’s going to show for years and [Ms Armstrong’s baby] will grow up feeling loved and not only from his auntie and uncle, but from the community and I just can’t thank everyone enough for everything, all their support,” Ms Isaacs told the ABC.
Clydesdales CEO Alex Pagonis said the team felt it was their responsibility to raise awareness about domestic violence.
The Western Clydesdales are encouraging people to wear purple this weekend. (ABC Southern Qld: Aisling Brennan)
Mr Pagonis said the team was recently blown away by support for a teammate who was injured in a car crash so felt it had to repay the favour and raise awareness.
“We thought, ‘You know what, we should be doing something to raise community awareness about this issue [domestic violence] as well’,” Mr Pagonis said.
Support in the wake of tragedy
More than $66,000 has been donated to the Armstrong family so far and the family said it had received so many donations of personal goods and items for Ms Armstrong’s child that it didn’t need any more.
Flowers have been placed outside Ms Armstrong’s home and candlelight vigils will be held in her honour.
People have been leaving flowers outside Jana Armstrong’s house in Newtown. (ABC Southern Qld: Grace Nakamura)
Toowoomba’s deputy mayor, Rebecca Vonhoff, said that, sadly, domestic violence was personal to so many and deeply impacted the wider community.
“I think what we’re all seeing and feeling is that when there is difficulty, we know that we can rely on each other to stand together,”
she said.
“We know that even as we struggle to make sense of things, we know that people will do everything they can and then some.”
Toowoomba cleaners Liv and Chrissy said they would donate 35 per cent of all profits from their cleaning business from jobs booked in support of the Armstrong family.
Toowoomba cleaners Liv and Chrissy say they hope they can help raise some money for the Armstrong family by donating some of their profits this week. (ABC Southern Qld: AIsling Brennan)
Both women said they have experienced domestic violence and wanted to work to help out.
“I do have a small platform where people are incredible to our business, and I know that some of our community will come together and donate,” said Liv, who asked for her surname to be withheld.
“They get something for themselves, but they also are able to know their money’s going towards a little boy and a family who will be able to use that for something good.”
Ways to combat community ‘epidemic’
While the community at large is grieving for Ms Armstrong, those who knew her are also leaning on each other during the difficult days ahead.
On Wednesday, Ms Armstrong’s former basketball team, The Saints, played for the first time since learning about her death.
Jana Armstrong (second left back) played alongside The Saints women’s basketball team, who honoured her at this week’s game. (Supplied)
Her former teammate, Bethany Graham, said it was an emotional reunion for the team.
“She was such a strong, positive, caring person that always thought of everyone else, and it just hurts,” Ms Graham said.
“I guess for a lot of us, we’ve seen stories like this on the news, but it’s never been someone that we know.”
Ms Graham said it was important for conversations about domestic violence awareness to be had.
“We need to do everything we can to put an end to it,”
she said.
“I’m a mother of boys. I realised that I’ve got a big responsibility to raise my boys so they know how to treat whoever they choose as their partner in the way they deserve.”
For many years, Ms Armstrong cared for people with disabilities in the Darling Downs as a support carer at Warrina Services.
Operations manager Fiona Thompson said her colleagues and clients were “heartbroken” following her death.
“Jana was a valued member of the Warrina Services team and she was a dedicated and compassionate support worker, who made a meaningful difference in the lives of the people she supported,” Ms Thompson said.
Meanwhile, Mr Pagonis encouraged those who planned to support the Western Clydesdales when they played at Langlands Park in Brisbane this weekend to wear purple.
“”I think it would be a fantastic show of strength,” Mr Pagonis said.
“It’s basically just spiritually getting behind a family that’s got a tough time ahead.”
A community candlelight vigil will also be hosted by Protea Place Women’s Support Centre at the Toowoomba Regional Council civic square at 5pm on July 24.
SOURCE: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-07-17/toowoomba-supports-jana-armstrong-family-fundraiser/106923668