A Western Downs community is pleading for ongoing mental health support after Monday's fatal shooting.
A six-hour siege at Wieambilla, 300 kilometres west of Brisbane, ended with two police officers, a neighbour and three offenders dead.
Neighbour Alan Dare, along with officers Constable Rachel McCrow and Constable Matthew Arnold, were well known the Tara, Chinchilla and Dalby communities.
The shocking incident has left residents pleading for government and non-government services to establish more permanent mental health support in the region.
Chinchilla Community Centre manager Louise Judge said workers from the Red Cross, Street Chaplains and counsellors from local and state health services were visiting the area this week.
She said the Western Downs community was stunned and in disbelief at what had happened on Monday.
"It's rocked people in all kinds of ways," Ms Judge said.
She said the services would be in place until Christmas but could be extended into the new year.
"As the numbness and the shock wears off, it's far more likely that people will want support," she said.
"We have been assured that services will be made available as required."
No immediate support at the time
Tara resident and horse rescuer David Maynard said there was an immediate shock in the hours after the incident.
"We're not [holding up]," Mr Maynard said.
"We're only a few weeks from Christmas, things are going to get worse.
"Christmas time is the worst time for mental health, and this has just topped the town off."
Mr Maynard said he had previously sought a phone-counselling appointment for post traumatic stress disorder, only to be put on a three-month waiting list.
He said the lack of services left residents with nowhere to turn when the shooting happened.
"There's nothing," he said.
"There is one lady that's offered to do a bit of help, but she's not a miracle worker."
