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On Monday 19 October 2026, our Federal Member for Indi, Dr Helen Haines, was attacked outside her Wangaratta office.
Our communities have been deeply shocked and saddened, and we know many people are holding Helen and her family in their thoughts.
Helen’s husband, Phil, has asked people to keep sending their messages of love, support and best wishes. This page provided a place for our community to do just that.
Community members were invited to share a kind word, a memory of Helen, a thank you for her work in our communities, or simply let her know she was in their thoughts. Every message received was a meaningful gesture of support and will now be collated and shared with Helen and her family through her office.
The Haines family has asked that, instead of sending flowers, people consider a donation to Save the Children.
If news of this event has been hard for you, please reach out to family, friends or a neighbour, or call Lifeline on 13 11 14 at any time.
On Monday 19 October 2026, our Federal Member for Indi, Dr Helen Haines, was attacked outside her Wangaratta office.
Our communities have been deeply shocked and saddened, and we know many people are holding Helen and her family in their thoughts.
Helen’s husband, Phil, has asked people to keep sending their messages of love, support and best wishes. This page provided a place for our community to do just that.
Community members were invited to share a kind word, a memory of Helen, a thank you for her work in our communities, or simply let her know she was in their thoughts. Every message received was a meaningful gesture of support and will now be collated and shared with Helen and her family through her office.
The Haines family has asked that, instead of sending flowers, people consider a donation to Save the Children.
If news of this event has been hard for you, please reach out to family, friends or a neighbour, or call Lifeline on 13 11 14 at any time.
CLOSED: Thank you for your messages of support for Helen. Every message received will now be thoughtfully collated and shared with Helen's family on behalf of the Indigo Shire community.
Dear Helen, we send our love and wishes for your speedy recovery.
Ian and Louise T
13 days ago
Helen restored my faith in democracy by being a living example of a new and different way to do democracy. Wherever Helen’s personal journey leads her next, her political journey cannot end here.
John Weretka
13 days ago
With such heavy hearts we send our love and healing blessings to Helen Haines. We support in our prayers her recovery and her courageous family. We pray for the carers and medical team monitoring her progress.
Love.
13 days ago
We stood outside st Paul s tonight , lit a candle- stay strong !
Jodie lane
13 days ago
Dearest Helen, Please know that you and your family are in the forefront of our minds throughout this time. 💜 We miss you and send you all of our love.
Holly
13 days ago
Dear Helen, wishing you strength and courage ❤️
Tangles
13 days ago
Much love and prayers for your recovery 🙏 ❤️ keeping you and your family in our thoughts
Margaret Hinton
13 days ago
It is with the utmost respect and concern for you and your family, your friends and staff that we add to the many messages of support. The horror of what has happened is unimaginable, and you are never far from everyone’s thoughts. We will be only one of the innumerable households that light that candle for you tonight Helen. K&G
KLVDVW
13 days ago
When Phil spoke on Wednesday evening about Helen from the Alfred, he used the word “synthesise” to describe her ability to listen to different views with her heart, then use her head to bring them together into something better. Her example reminds us of a skill we could all practise more: listening carefully and respectfully, then taking the time to shape a thoughtful response that takes everyone’s needs into account. Sending love to Helen and Phil and your family and team.
greengranny
14 days ago
Dearest Helen, my love and prayers to you, Phil, your children and staff. You have thousands who love you and stand by you. Much strength to you in the coming months. You are such a beautiful lady inside and out 🙏🌼💖
Robyn McCall
14 days ago
To dear Helen, We are new to Yackandandah, having purchased a house here during Covid but now able to retire up here. Part of our love for this beautiful region was inspired by you and the wonderful newsletters and social media updates which conveyed a wonderful sense of community and heartfelt engagement. We felt we were moving to somewhere special and connected. Thank you for all that you have done to facilitate that. I absolutely admire and respect all that you do and the way you do it. As a women in my late 60’s I have been so impressed with you and all that you have done, you are such an inspiration and role model for us all. My heartfelt best wishes go out to you and your family for your recovery. I am sure that the community that you love is going to surround you with love and support in return. I hope I can be part of that support if needed. Stay strong you are so loved.
Kind regards,
Belinda Phillips
14 days ago
Your dignity, kindness and compassion has always been a beacon in the ugly world of politics, and our thoughts are with you.
CarlBlamey
14 days ago
Helen and Phil wishing you and family all the best in your recovery and will do all we can to support you now and into your future much love Deb and Paul x
Deb and Paul
14 days ago
To Our Dear Helen. No words can express my horror and sorrow at what you've been through. You have been a shining light for all that that is good, and all that is decent. You have done this, unwaiveringly, for Indi since 2019. My thoughts, my prayers, my every positive thought is for you right now, and I hope and pray that you can recover from this, and that your heart and soul can once again be strong. Phil said beautiful words about you and they are echoed across the country.
trevor.ierino
14 days ago
Dear Helen, you have always brought such warmth, grace and genuine care to everything you do, and our region is so much better for having you in it. You are in my thoughts and in my heart. Sending love to you and your family.
melinda.collis
14 days ago
Keep shining through and know how much you are loved and supported xx
Dear Helen, we send our love and wishes for your speedy recovery.
Helen restored my faith in democracy by being a living example of a new and different way to do democracy. Wherever Helen’s personal journey leads her next, her political journey cannot end here.
With such heavy hearts we send our love and healing blessings to Helen Haines. We support in our prayers her recovery and her courageous family.
We pray for the carers and medical team monitoring her progress.
We stood outside st Paul s tonight , lit a candle- stay strong !
Dearest Helen,
Please know that you and your family are in the forefront of our minds throughout this time. 💜 We miss you
and send you all of our love.
Dear Helen, wishing you strength and courage ❤️
Much love and prayers for your recovery 🙏 ❤️ keeping you and your family in our thoughts
It is with the utmost respect and concern for you and your family, your friends and staff that we add to the many messages of support. The horror of what has happened is unimaginable, and you are never far from everyone’s thoughts. We will be only one of the innumerable households that light that candle for you tonight Helen. K&G
When Phil spoke on Wednesday evening about Helen from the Alfred, he used the word “synthesise” to describe her ability to listen to different views with her heart, then use her head to bring them together into something better. Her example reminds us of a skill we could all practise more: listening carefully and respectfully, then taking the time to shape a thoughtful response that takes everyone’s needs into account. Sending love to Helen and Phil and your family and team.
Dearest Helen, my love and prayers to you, Phil, your children and staff. You have thousands who love you and stand by you. Much strength to you in the coming months. You are such a beautiful lady inside and out 🙏🌼💖
To dear Helen,
We are new to Yackandandah, having purchased a house here during Covid but now able to retire up here.
Part of our love for this beautiful region was inspired by you and the wonderful newsletters and social media updates which conveyed a wonderful sense of community and heartfelt engagement. We felt we were moving to somewhere special and connected. Thank you for all that you have done to facilitate that.
I absolutely admire and respect all that you do and the way you do it.
As a women in my late 60’s I have been so impressed with you and all that you have done, you are such an inspiration and role model for us all.
My heartfelt best wishes go out to you and your family for your recovery.
I am sure that the community that you love is going to surround you with love and support in return. I hope I can be part of that support if needed. Stay strong you are so loved.
Kind regards,
Your dignity, kindness and compassion has always been a beacon in the ugly world of politics, and our thoughts are with you.
Helen and Phil wishing you and family all the best in your recovery and will do all we can to support you now and into your future much love Deb and Paul x
To Our Dear Helen. No words can express my horror and sorrow at what you've been through. You have been a shining light for all that that is good, and all that is decent. You have done this, unwaiveringly, for Indi since 2019. My thoughts, my prayers, my every positive thought is for you right now, and I hope and pray that you can recover from this, and that your heart and soul can once again be strong. Phil said beautiful words about you and they are echoed across the country.
Dear Helen, you have always brought such warmth, grace and genuine care to everything you do, and our region is so much better for having you in it. You are in my thoughts and in my heart. Sending love to you and your family.
Keep shining through and know how much you are loved and supported xx