Under sunny skies and armed with a shovel, Helen Haines stood next to a pile of dirt, smiling for the camera.
asserted
Haines → arm → camera
Joined by senator Michelle Ananda-Rajah, council representatives, and locals, Ms Haines spent some of Monday afternoon in Mansfield for an "official sod-turning" for the Victorian town's BMX pump track and dog park.
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Haines → join → track
She saw me and greeted me with open arms and a big smile on her face and then she planted a big kiss on my cheek," Senator Ananda-Rajah said.
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Rajah → see → cheek
The sun was still shining and it was a beautiful 25 degrees Celsius when she arrived.
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she → shin → ?
Ms Haines parked outside her office in Murphy Street and went to the boot of her car to unpack.
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Haines → park → car
Next up for the member for Indi was a 4pm Zoom interview with the ABC's Patricia Karvelas to talk about the new head of the National Anti-Corruption Commission — a federal body Ms Haines had fought to get established.
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Haines → talk → Commission
She never made it to that interview.
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She → make → interview
'They just ran to help'
Wangaratta's CBD is four large blocks, bisected in one direction by the wide tree-dotted Murphy Street.
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CBD → run → Street
At the north-eastern end, just before the road leaps the Ovens River, sits Ms Haines's office.
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office → leap → River
Witnesses say that as Ms Haines stood at the rear of her car outside the office, a white Toyota LandCruiser entered Murphy Street from the river end.
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LandCruiser → say → end
It passed Ms Haines on the opposite of the road, did a U-turn, and then rammed the politician, pinning her against her car.
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It → pass → car
The LandCruiser reversed, and then hit her again.
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LandCruiser → reverse → her
Those nearby heard a loud bang and a scream.
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Those → hear → bang
Barber Ricky Jefferies ran from his shop to see what was going on.
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what → run → shop
Wangaratta locals were already rushing to help.
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locals → rush → ?
"I saw amazing members of the Wangaratta community who I know … and they were helping," Mr Jefferies said.
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Jefferies → see → who
"A lot of people got involved immediately and they didn't even check for danger.
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they → involve → danger
"They just ran to help."
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They → run → ?
At least one bystander had positioned themself between the car and Ms Haines.
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bystander → position → car
While he would later downplay his role, Mr Jefferies leapt into action.
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Jefferies → downplay → action
He dragged the driver from the LandCruiser and leant over him.
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He → drag → him
He took a knife from the driver's pocket and threw it away.
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He → take → it
"Once he was on the ground and he was no longer a threat, I just stood with him and told him that he can't leave," Mr Jefferies said.
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Jefferies → stand → him
And in a true moment of humanity, he told the driver: "Everything is alright, mate.
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Everything → tell → driver
"It was the right thing to do and to show him kindness and grace at a time that could have escalated from there,"he said.
uncertain
that → do → time
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called Mr Jefferies a hero.
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Albanese → call → Jefferies
Mr Jefferies said he was just "a member of the community" and "a person who had an opportunity to intervene".
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who → say → opportunity
Local Cody Lepoidevin also raced to the scene.
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Lepoidevin → race → scene
"It was quite a horrific scene," Mr Lepoidevin said.
"
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Lepoidevin → say → ?
We knew what needed to happen, whether it was tourniquets, settling the guy down.
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it → know → guy
"We just had to help Helen as best we could until the ambulance got there."
uncertain
ambulance → have → Helen
He said they sat the driver against a wall.
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they → say → wall
His phone, his wallet, and shutting his car door were his main priorities," Mr Lepoidevin said.
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Lepoidevin → shut → door
He said Ms Haines was conscious and stayed remarkably calm and dignified despite her horrific injuries.
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Haines → say → injuries
"I'm sure if I'd been in Helen's situation there would have been a lot more swear words," Mr Lepoidevin said.
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Lepoidevin → say → situation
"But she came across lovely … even in that moment."
A 43-year-old Tarrawingee man, Brendan Nugent, was arrested at the scene.
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man → come → scene
Ms Haines was flown to hospital for emergency surgery with critical lower leg injuries.
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Haines → fly → injuries
It has been confirmed she has lost one leg, and surgeons at The Alfred are working to save her other one.
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surgeons → confirm → one
A community in shock
In 10 days, Wangaratta will welcome thousands of people to its 36th annual jazz and blues festival.
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Wangaratta → welcome → festival
The event shows off the beauty and hospitality of the city in Victoria's north-east, which sits at the junction of the Ovens and King rivers, nestled on the plains between the Murray and high country.
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which → show → Murray
…and 19 more, not listed.
The Aporia
