Manhunt in rugged terrain approaches fourth day
Victoria police are not expected to make any more announcements tonight on the hunt for Dezi Freeman.
Earlier, the two Bearcats and several police vehicles left the area near the property they had been searching this afternoon.
It is cold and wet, with a low of 3C expected for the evening.
Tomorrow the search will enter its fourth day – four days in rugged terrain and miserable weather that Freeman has continued to hide from the large-scale search.
We will be with you from the morning with all the updates.
Until then, take a read of our full report on the ongoing search or read a summary of what we know so far.
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Local cafe pays tribute to officer with ‘heart of gold’ who visited almost every day
A local cafe has expressed their “devastation” at the loss of their “long time customer and friend”, Neal “Thommo” Thompson, after he was killed in the Porepunkah shooting on Tuesday.
In a tribute posted to social media, Ineeta cafe, in the town of Moyhu, said Thompson had been a regular for the past decade.
I would nearly hazard to say he’d be the most visited customer ever. Sometimes coming in everyday … on his way to and from work. He would sit quietly for hours reading the paper or engaging in conversation with locals that knew him.
Jimmy, his beloved wired haired pointer (now passed), would often come with him and we’d know two egg and bacon muffins were needed, one for Neal one for Jimmy. We would chat about life, hunting, fishing, Nepal, adventures, his car, rock climbing … and lately all the things he was going to do in his retirement. I’m so sad he won’t get to live that life in retirement.
The post reflected on how Thompson would sometimes arrive early before the cafe opened, “sneak in and revel in how big of a scare he could give me, and then chuckle at how well he’d done”.
Tuesday morning he got me a beauty, he then stayed for breakfast and a couple of coffees … He said he was heading up to Bright at nine. I will relive those final conversations that morning for ever. He was unique, heart of gold, larger than life, intimidating to some but still a softness without words. Struggling to believe he’s gone. He’s left a big hole in our community and our hearts.
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