When horror came to Wangaratta, this is how locals rushed to help

Under sunny skies and armed with a shovel, Helen Haines stood next to a pile of dirt, smiling for the 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.

"Helen was in high spirits. She was upbeat and positive. 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.

"That was just typical Helen. That's who she is."

It was all part of a busy day for Ms Haines. At about 2pm the independent MP was back in her car for the drive back north to her office in Wangaratta.

The sun was still shining and it was a beautiful 25 degrees Celsius when she arrived.

It was 3:30pm — school pick-up time — and Wangaratta's main street was busy.

Ms Haines parked outside her office in Murphy Street and went to the boot of her car to unpack.

Her day was far from over. 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.

She never made it to that interview.

'They just ran to help'

Wangaratta's CBD is four large blocks, bisected in one direction by the wide tree-dotted Murphy Street.

At the north-eastern end, just before the road leaps the Ovens River, sits Ms Haines's office.

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.

It passed Ms Haines on the opposite of the road, did a U-turn, and then rammed the politician, pinning her against her car.

The LandCruiser reversed, and then hit her again.

Those nearby heard a loud bang and a scream.

Barber Ricky Jefferies ran from his shop to see what was going on.

Wangaratta locals were already rushing to help.

"I saw amazing members of the Wangaratta community who I know … and they were helping," Mr Jefferies said.

"A lot of people got involved immediately and they didn't even check for danger.

"They just ran to help."

At least one bystander had positioned themself between the car and Ms Haines.

While he would later downplay his role, Mr Jefferies leapt into action.

He dragged the driver from the LandCruiser and leant over him.

He took a knife from the driver's pocket and threw it away.

"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.

And in a true moment of humanity, he told the driver: "Everything is alright, mate. You'll be alright."

"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.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called Mr Jefferies a hero.

Mr Jefferies said he was just "a member of the community" and "a person who had an opportunity to intervene".

Local Cody Lepoidevin also raced to the scene.

"It was quite a horrific scene," Mr Lepoidevin said.

"We knew what needed to happen, whether it was tourniquets, settling the guy down.

"We just had to help Helen as best we could until the ambulance got there."

He said they sat the driver against a wall.

"[He was] very irrational. He was only concerned about his belongings and his car. His phone, his wallet, and shutting his car door were his main priorities," Mr Lepoidevin said.

"It's quite unsettling."

He said Ms Haines was conscious and stayed remarkably calm and dignified despite her horrific injuries.

"I'm sure if I'd been in Helen's situation there would have been a lot more swear words," Mr Lepoidevin said.

"But she came across lovely … even in that moment."

A 43-year-old Tarrawingee man, Brendan Nugent, was arrested at the scene.

Ms Haines was flown to hospital for emergency surgery with critical lower leg injuries.

It has been confirmed she has lost one leg, and surgeons at The Alfred are working to save her other one.

A community in shock

In 10 days, Wangaratta will welcome thousands of people to its 36th annual jazz and blues 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.

But whether the people of Wangaratta will feel festive come October 30 remains to be seen.

Right now, it is a community in shock.

"I just can't believe that's happened in Wangaratta," Mayor Irene Grant said.

"It is a safe place and it's a positive place."

Chris Wernert showed up outside Ms Haines's office with an Australian flag, wearing a T-shirt saying "Wangaratta — this is not us", and calling for respect.

Independent MP for Ovens Valley Steve Manning told ABC Victoria Statewide Mornings Ms Haines had just become a grandmother in recent months.

"This was meant to be a very special time for the Haines family," Mr Manning said.

But he hinted at the dark side that came with a life in politics these days.

"Helen and I spent a couple of hours together at the Wangaratta show only just a couple of weekends ago," he said.

"Helen posted photos of us celebrating what it is that's great about living in our region, and the comments that came to that post were immediately awful.

"On what was meant to be a celebration of regional life, people turned on her and made it into something that it wasn't."

Less than 24 hours after the shocking attack, Ms Haines's office is surrounded by a sea of flowers and heartfelt notes.

"Thanks for all the wonderful work you have done," one read.

"We are praying for you."

"May you recover quickly and continue to be a light in this world," another read.

Politicians from all sides paid tribute to Ms Haines's tenacity and integrity, and called for the temperature of the public discourse to be lowered.

Senator Ananda-Rajah is "tearing up every five minutes".

"I'm crying. I'm not OK. I'm shattered by this incident," she said.

"Today's been hard. I had a community event this afternoon and I couldn't bring myself to go.

"I just can't face a big crowd. I can't face people right now. I don't know what to say to them. My emotions are too raw."

The police investigation is continuing. Details about Mr Nugent came to light as police raided his home.

Now the 30,000 people of Wangaratta are attempting to come to grips with what has just happened in the town they call home.