Dezi Freeman attended Mass days before two police were slain. On Sunday, the church stayed locked

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 seven kilometres from Porepunkah – recognised Freeman in media coverage of the shootings as the man who often attended Mass with his wife and baby.

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 and 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.

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 past week had been 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. He did not think there was any danger in visiting Bright.

But the main street of Porepunkah was practically deserted. Few customers were to be seen 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.

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 that with good snow falls at Mount Hotham and Falls Creek, his shop would usually be busy.

There would usually be long queues outside as people waited 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.

Instead of six to eight staff 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.”

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.