A TOWN REMEMBERS ‘BEAUTIFUL SOUL’

Friday morning 9 June 2023 in Molong was a “thank goodness its Friday” kind of day - just like most Fridays during the school term.

That morning was the same as many other school mornings as busy families rushed through the bathroom, ate their breakfast, brushed teeth, packed school bags and headed out the door to catch school buses or ride with mum or dad to school, pre-school or child minding.

For many they were already focussed on the weekend ahead - sport, shopping, perhaps a birthday party to attend or plans to spend catching up time with family or friends.

Most days, most Fridays the Molong township moves into silence as families return to the safety of their homes.

Not on Friday afternoon 9 June.

Sirens filled the silence as blue and red flashing lights raced through town with accompanying sirens from police cars and emergency rescue vehicles as they came and went. Maybe a truck had overturned on the highway again? The sound of a helicopter meant that something big had happened.

By nightfall the news had spread - a mother, a local woman had died in the crash involving two vehicles. One of the vehicles Kristy Armstrong was driving. The other driven by her estranged husband Troy Armstrong - the father of the couple’s three daughters

On that fateful Friday - two of the daughters were travelling in their mother’s car.

They recieved minor physical injuries that were treated at the scene on Speedy Street before being taken to hospital.

Their father, Troy Armstrong suffered critical injuries in the crash and was airlifted to a Sydney hospital.

A black cloud settled over the Molong community that night and remained in place for days - perhaps weeks - for some it will be many months and years. For others - forever.

Lives have been changed the sense of living in a safe community has been questioned.

For most - the suddeness of the death of a community member - an extended family member of ones own community and close friendship group is one of life’s journeys that is difficult to accept - and to come to terms with.

Such is the overwhelming sadness when a small community of close, caring residents loses one of its own.

On behalf of the Molong and District communities - the Express would like to extend our heartfelt sympathy, thoughts and love to the family and friends of Kristy Armstrong.

Farewelled with love

Troy Armstrong has been charged with murder after allegedly crashing his ute into a vehicle on Speedy Street on June 9, 2023 driven by his estranged wife, Kristy Armstrong (36 years of age) who died at the scene.

Troy, a resident of Molong, is a member of one of the town’s early Molong families. One that has been, and still remains a highly respected extended family of town and district.

Critically injured in the crash, Troy was transferred to the Royal North Shore Hospital where he apparently still remains.

He was charged with the murder of Kristy and the attempted murder of the couple’s two daughters. His first court hearing was at the Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday 24 June 2023. A preliminary hearing was then listed to be held at the Orange Local Court on 11 July 2023.

Kristy’s Farewell

On Thursday 22 June 2023, Kristy’s family and friends gathered at the Molong Baptist Church centre for a special farewell service to celebrate her life. Attendees were encouraged to wear purple - Kristy’s favourite colour. The hearse carrying Kristy’s white coffin and covered in purple butterflies, made its way through Bank Street to the service.

Friends stood outside the purple-balloondecorated Freemasons Hotel when the hearse drove past to farewell their friend. Kim

Stojanov’s Freemasons

Hotel held the ‘wake’ for Kristy who was a very loved and popular parttime employee and good friend.

With love, Kim and Kristy’s friends decorated the venue with hand-made purple and white paper flowers, and the children of local schools and preschool made tags to deliver messages of love to the three Armstrong children.

Food was made and delivered from schools, pre-school and organisations to the Freemasons - an act of love itself and part of the traditional base of Molong.

What you can do to help?

A Go Fund Me page has been set up to support the couple’s three daughters. Donations on this page have been steadily growing and can still be made - need to be made and continued as a permanent offer of help.

Other fundraising events are apparently being discussed - as well as holding a community vigil in Molong to light candles to remember Kristy and other women, men, and families who have been affected by domestic violence.

The vigil will be a reflection and remembrance, to help bring light to what has become a national crisis.

Domestic and Family Violence

Over the past 10 years in Australia, one woman has been killed nearly every week and one child killed each fortnight in the context of domestic and family violence. Holding a candlelight vigil provides a space for people to come together to grieve for those lost, and affected by such violence and to share messages of hope, to ensure that we never forget the people behind the statistics. beautiful smile and the love, care and kindness she willingly gave to family and friends and to the wider community.

Domestic and family violence affects people from all walks of life, from different cultures, locations and economic levels - and includes many forms of abuse and violence that is not always physical.

The vigil is also a callto-action to speak up, to help lift the veil of silence that surrounds domestic and family violence, and to encourage victims to reach out for support if experiencing, or perpetrating violence.

Support is available from the National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service at 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732).