BENDIGO’S business and community leaders have been left shocked by the murder of newsagent Garry Angus, but say it must be treated as a one-off incident in what is a “very safe community”.
City of Greater Bendigo mayor Rod Fyffe said he had known Mr Angus and his family well, and was extremely saddened to hear of his death.
“It’s something you never dream would happen in Bendigo and something you don’t want to happen in Bendigo,” Cr Fyffe said.
“I’m shocked and send my sympathy to the family. Really it’s sad that it’s happened to such a nice bloke.”
But Cr Fyffe said the incident did not mean people should feel unsafe in Bendigo.
“I think it just catches everybody by surprise and throws into sharp relief that this is a very rare event in Bendigo,” he said.
“I am very thankful and I think the rest of the community are very thankful that it is such a rare event.
“We need to put it in perspective because we do live in a very safe community.”
Bendigo Business Council executive officer Kevin de Vries said the murder had left him in a state of disbelief and with a “great sense of concern for the family”.
“Here we have a hard-working local business person, a small business operator, working in his shop yet this has happened,” he said.
“It’s quite unbelievable this could have happened, you just hope the police get to the bottom of what’s happened and why it has happened.”
Mr de Vries said Mr Angus’s death was a blow for the small business community.
“When there is a violent event like this, businesses are right to review their procedures. But I would please hope this is an isolated incident.”
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