Dezi Freeman attended mass days before the alleged murders. On Sunday, the church stayed locked

2 weeks ago 9

Dezi Freeman was a churchgoer who attended mass just days before he allegedly shot dead two police officers and wounded another in Porepunkah, in Victoria’s alpine region, last Tuesday, according to locals.

Parishioners at Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church in Bright – a tourist town about six kilometres from Porepunkah – recognised Freeman in media coverage of the shootings as the man who often attended mass with his wife and baby.

Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church in Bright, where Dezi Freeman often attended mass, was closed on Sunday.

On Sunday, as police continued to search nearby bushland where Freeman reportedly fled, a handful of local Catholics arrived at the church for 11am mass, braving a cold but fine morning.

However, they found the church locked, with parish priest Father Tony Shallue nowhere to be seen.

One parishioner, who did not want to be named, recalled that during the August 24 mass, Freeman “fidgeted” and that the baby sat on a rug on the floor near their mother, Freeman’s wife, Amalia.

She said the baby was baptised at the church about six months ago and that Freeman had once helped repair a vandalised statue of the Virgin Mary in the church’s garden.

Snow-capped peaks of Mount Buffalo above the property where Dezi Freeman allegedly shot and killed two police officers.

Another churchgoer, who also did not want to be named, said Freeman stood out, as he was younger than most worshippers.

She said she was disappointed the priest didn’t turn up and support the community on Sunday.

This masthead contacted the church office but received no reply.

On day six of the hunt for Freeman, Bright’s main street was busy with locals but few tourists. Ryan Alexander, a senior staff member at Gum Tree Pies, said the last week had been pretty quiet and takings were down by 60 per cent on Friday and Saturday compared with normal trade.

Business started to pick up on Sunday with more people coming to the nearby snowfields.

Alexander said the media had depicted an atmosphere of fear, and while the shootings were terrible, police were doing an “excellent job” of keeping people safe, and he didn’t think there was any danger in coming to Bright.

But the main street of Porepunkah was practically deserted, with few customers at the only cafe that was open.

Local Desi Saunders, who was drinking a cappuccino beside his dog, Louie, usually enjoys chatting to visitors, but none were there on Sunday.

Porepunkah local Desi Saunders with his dog, Louie.

Saunders, who also owns a tourist transport business, said the main street would have normally been “packed” this time of year with visitors to the snowfields.

He said the shootings had affected the town’s image. “Now everyone knows where Porepunkah is for the wrong reason.”

Next door at Porepunkah Ski Hire, owner Ben Kaye said with good snow falls at Mount Hotham and Falls Creek, his shop would usually be very busy.

There would usually be long queues outside the shop with people waiting to hire skis and other snow gear, he said.

However, on Sunday, the place was near empty given authorities had advised tourists heading to the snow to avoid Porepunkah due to the hunt for Freeman.

Ben Kaye, owner of Porepunkah Ski Hire, said it has been a quiet week.

Instead of six to eight staff members working, there were just two.

But Kaye said it was “difficult talking about the impact on business when there have been lives lost”.

“You’ve got to keep it in perspective.”

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