IT WAS a quiet day in Korumburra on Wednesday.
Kelly’s Bakery was doing a brisk trade around lunchtime.
People were in and out of the post office for parcels and their Tatts tickets.
And Gonzalo the artist from Fish Creek was up on his scaffolding applying the finishing touches to the town’s new murals, on the walkway to the railway underpass tunnel.
The highway was busy enough, with trucks using their air brakes as they approached the crossing, but there wasn’t the usual foot traffic you’d see at the start and end of a school day.
So, why is that news?
There was simply no one stopping in the street or huddling in groups giving their views on the Erin Patterson guilty verdict.
Certainly, they’ve taken much more than a passing interest in the trial and the outcome and they’ve no doubt talked about it around the dinner table.
But unless they’re being polite when pressed for a comment, they don’t have to talk about it at the golf club, at the pub or around the town.
They know what they know. And their friends are the same.
Twenty five years of Korumburra High School alumni had a personal relationship with Don Patterson, when he was a well-regarded teacher there. And many also knew Gail at the school office or both Heather Wilkinson and Gail Patterson from their volunteer work around the town.
Everyone knows the lengths to which Ian Wilkinson is prepared to go for church members and friends in sickness and in health, and sadly in death too, often travelling to Melbourne to officiate at funerals.
What can be said between the many friends and acquaintances of the Wilkinson and Patterson families, when the person they are talking to has the same thoughts, feelings and experiences?
You just get on with it, a little bruised and battered, yes, for the events of the last two years, shocked and saddened for the families and maybe cowed by the evil realities of life.
But what else can you do?
Those pressed for a comment by the visiting media have spoken about the relief that it’s over, but it isn’t over, not for us, not for them, not for anyone.
In recent days there have been as many if not more stories than all the days of the trial put together and more are yet to follow, we’re told, with pay TV series, specials and breaking news daily, even before an appeal application has been lodged or the sentence handed down, which they say is not expected until next month.
To give you an indication of the astonishing level of interest, the Supreme Court supplied some facts and figures which make the Erin Patterson mushroom murder trial the biggest, from a media point of view, in recent history.
- A total of 252 journalist and media outlets were recorded on the Court’s media email list for the trial
- This included representatives from 15 international media companies from the UK, USA and New Zealand
- There were 9 authors, 7 podcasts and podcasters, 7 documentary crews, and 1 television drama series team
- 190 journalists were provided the audio-only livestream access daily, and
- A further 7 international media outlets made contact after the verdicts.
- Among them was highly decorated Channel 7 journalist Chris Reason who has reported on everything from 9/11 to the Fukushima nuclear disaster, and the funerals of Nelson Mandela and Princess Di.
However, while Korumburra might still be in the eye of a storm, apart from the stiff, cold northerly wind blowing down the middle of Commercial Street on the day, and with a few visiting media people still poking about, the community is simply getting on with the job.
From the heart
In an effort to deal with interest from the community, and also from the passing media, the Korumburra Baptist Church posted the following message on its noticeboard, outside the church, last Tuesday:
“We all greatly miss Heather, Don and Gail, whether we were friends for a short time or over 20 year. They were very special people who loved God and loved to bless others.
“It’s been a long journey, and we continue to lovingly support Ian, Simon, and all the Wilkinson and Patterson family through this difficult time.
“We appreciate all the care from our local communities, special support from individuals and from the Baptist Union of Victoria, and the churches and people from all over the world who have been praying for us,
“As our Pastor Ian has said: “Life can be hard, but God is faithful, and He is always with us.”
The Wilkinson and Patterson families have asked that people respect their privacy at this time. Please also respect the privacy of our church family.
Thank you., Korumburra Baptist Church Leadership Team.
From the shire
Mayor John Schelling also released a short statement in relation to the trial verdict.
“South Gippsland Shire Council is pleased that the trial is concluded, and a verdict has now been reached. I will not comment on the details of the case or on whether or not I believe the verdict to be correct. That’s for others to determine. But I think I speak for many in South Gippsland by saying I hope that today’s outcome can help to bring closure.
“This case has drawn international media attention, and it’s important to remember that our region is made up of small, close-knit communities.
“Korumburra and Leongatha — two towns suddenly and unexpectedly thrust into the global spotlight — each have populations of around 5000.
“The people involved in this case are not just names in headlines; they are locals. They are people many of us know, or sadly, knew. Their families remain part of our community.
“Our hope now is that, with the trial behind us, the focus on our region can ease, and the healing process—for everyone affected—can begin.”
It seems a forlorn hope at this stage.
