Cleo Smith: Carnarvon community celebrate four-year-old’s return home at church

Carnarvon’s Church of Christ was supposed to have held a vigil for Cleo Smith on Sunday, instead dozens of community members gathered to celebrate her “miraculous” return home.

“How bright does it feel to be here tonight?” Pastor Law-Davis asked the crowd.

“It was supposed to have been a very different night.”

Like most in the tight-knit community, the pastor knew Cleo’s parents Ellie Smith and Jake Gliddon, and said he was overjoyed to hear the news on Wednesday.

During the service, which was attended by 100 locals, he gave special thanks to police and all the emergency services for their parts in Cleo’s search and rescue.

“We thank them for their tenacity, wisdom and insight,” pastor Law-Davis said.

“We thank you that Cleo is reunited with her family ... that you surrounded her with your angels and protected her.

“As a community, we stand united with hearts filled with joy and thanksgiving.”

The church first held a vigil on October 17 – the night after the four-year-old went missing from her family’s tent while camping at Quobba Blowholes.

A second vigil was held at the Church of Christ the following Sunday with about 100 people attending.