Source : Perth Now news
As autumn leaves descend on the tiny alpine town of Porepunkah, there’s a quiet sense of relief in the air that the media, much like the leaves, might soon disappear.
Dezi Freeman, wanted for shooting dead two police officers on a property near the town, was killed on Monday roughly 150km away in Thologolong, after seven months on the run.
Since the police killings in August, Porepunkah has at different stages been overrun by authorities and media, while tourist numbers shrunk.
Locals and business owners politely declined to comment on Freeman’s death, saying they were keen to move on from the tragedy.
For the local community, a sad chapter had finally come to a close, state MP for Ovens Valley Tim McCurdy said.
“They didn’t ask for this, it’s something that was put upon them,” the Nationals MP told AAP.
“And the scrutiny that’s come on the town and the community over those last seven months since the 26th of August has been more than any community ever wants to put themselves under.”
Tourism numbers in Porepunkah and nearby Bright began to recover by Christmas, but businesses have been struggling.
“There was police presence buying coffee and the odd meal, but the restaurants and other recreational areas, push bike riders and all that sort of thing, disappeared,” Mr McCurdy said.
The question still looms large: how does a small town move on after it becomes synonymous with tragedies saturated by media coverage?
Other locations, such as Leongatha in Victoria, Snowtown in South Australia and Port Arthur in Tasmania, have become widely known for notorious high-profile crimes.
Alpine Shire Mayor Sarah Nicholas also declined an interview request but said the council was doing everything it could to support locals.
“Our community has been deeply affected by these recent events, which have had a significant impact on many individuals and families,” Ms Nicholas said in a statement.
“If these events have been distressing or triggering, we encourage community members to reach out for support.”
The gate of the property where Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart were killed is covered in signs warning trespassers.
Just before an alarm went off, one other notice stood out:
“CORRESPONDANCE (sic) FOR DEZI FREEMAN
PLEASE DIRECT TO
Desmond Digby
Bottersnikes & Gumbles Blvd.
Wakefield 1986
South Africa”
