<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The dark clouds that once hung over </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/porepunkah-shooting" rel="" target="_blank" title="Porepunkah"><span>Porepunkah</span></a><span> are starting to dissipate.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It has been a tough few months for the small Victorian tourist town of just over 1000 people, but the light has finally returned for residents and business owners</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/former-detective-shuts-down-dezi-freeman-south-africa-sighting/81950d49-8f41-4852-b141-8bb11a1ee620" rel="" target="_blank" title="When accused cop killer Dezi Freeman"><span>When accused cop killer Dezi Freeman</span></a><span> allegedly shot and killed Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson, 59, and Senior Constable Vadim Hottart De Waart, 34, and injured a third, Porepunkah was plunged into a snap lockdown.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/vending-machine-business-why-australians-are-buying-selling-snack-machines-for-extra-income/1999b07f-1822-400d-a5bb-e249b5728d6c" target="_blank" title="'$250 by 8am': The unusual idea earning everyday Aussies big money"><strong><span>'$250 by 8am': The unusual idea earning everyday Aussies big money</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>Do you have a story? Contact</span></strong></em><span> </span><strong><em><span>reporter April Glover at</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="mailto:april.glover@nine.com.au" target="" title="april.glover@nine.com.au"><em><strong><span>april.glover@nine.com.au</span></strong></em></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It was about to be peak winter holiday season – cabins were booked, road trips planned, and Porepunkah about to be teeming with keen visitors.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Porepunkah Pines Holiday Park managers Narelle and Mark Gray were preparing for a busy few weeks ahead of a ripper snow season.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/porepunkah-business-owners-reveal-true-cost-of-police-operation-looking-forward-to-2026-exclusive/85a6b773-e426-4ccb-9eb1-190e81125856" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But the pair closed their accommodation to help out Victoria Police in the immediate aftermath of the shooting.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"That hit hard because it was the best two weekends for the snow," Narelle told </span><a href="http://nine.com.au"><span>nine.com.au</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We closed for the first eight days and then we just thought, 'Well, we can't stay closed forever'."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Pepo Farms owner and president of the Bright and District Chamber of Commerce Marcus Warner described the impact of the shutdown and tourist lockout in Porepunkah as "worse than COVID".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Suddenly we're a no-go zone for what is ultimately a tourist industry," he told </span><a href="http://nine.com.au"><span>nine.com.au</span></a><span>.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/macquarie-repay-shield-investors-michael-donovan-relieved-to-be-refunded-after-collapse-exclusive/c2381615-6ff9-41fc-a773-322d9a1fdb25" target="_blank" title="Micki thought he'd lost $150,000. Then an email landed in his inbox"><strong><span>Micki thought he'd lost $150,000. Then an email landed in his inbox</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Overnight, cash flow just stopped and businesses ground to a halt. We weren't expecting it, probably didn't have the cash reserves they do today or that they might have had during COVID because of the cost of living crisis."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Warner said businesses were "on their knees" after just a few weeks.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Residents and business owners did their best to support police as they searched for Freeman, and an emergency funding package helped keep many people afloat.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We lost thousands and thousands of dollars. I had to lay off our casual staff," Warner said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/esta-visa-perth-woman-denied-boarding-on-flight-to-hawaii-to-visit-husbands-family/f659f6a8-da4e-4263-b9a0-6f958b639a51" target="_blank" title="An unexpected email ruined Perth couple's $3000 trip to Hawaii"><strong><span>An unexpected email ruined Perth couple's $3000 trip to Hawaii</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It was very evident that the community was hurting on every level."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>As the weeks turned into months without any arrests, Porepunkah felt the strain.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Mount Buffalo National Park – a popular destination for tourists passing through the town – became the hot zone for police operations, making it difficult for Porepunkah to return to normal.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The town is resilient, though.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Visitors and supporters alike helped lift up residents during the darkest times. Now, it is almost business as usual.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"People are all starting to come back, the phones are busy again," Narelle said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Visitors are definitely wanting to come back."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But she said Porepunkah is still missing closure.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Since August 26, Freeman has not been sighted and police have not been able to confirm if he is dead or alive.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Whether we're going to get that [closure] or not, we don't know," she said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"As the police operation unfolded, we realised they were here for the long-term," Warner added.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We tried to get on with our lives as normal. We felt as safe as we've ever felt. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Once the tourists started to return, it did raise a significant amount of goodwill and mood once we started seeing people returning to our towns."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Both business owners expect 2026 to be a bumper tourist year for Porepunkah.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The small town needs support and the bookings have already proved Australian travellers are willing to spend their cash to help it thrive again.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We are a tight-knit community," Warner said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We've been through a lot, and I think as usual, we'll come out of this stronger."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. 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