A chaotic few minutes and a beloved MP’s life in the balance: a community grapples with the unfathomable

Wangaratta locals who went to Helen Haines’ aid on Monday have been hailed as heroes. But many remain shellshocked by the alleged attack

It sounded like a car accident - as though someone had unintentionally backed into another vehicle on the quiet main street in the north-east Victorian city of Wangaratta.


Across the road, Cody Lepoidevin had been helping a customer in the High Country RoadHouse - an outdoor store directly across from the office of his local federal MP, Helen Haines.

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https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/20/helen-haines-wangaratta-community-grapples-with-the-unfathomable-ntwnfb