‘Emotional week': The small church at the centre of the mushroom trial tries to move on
Earlier, the church band – with similar unspoken symbolism – played Colin Buchanan's The Lord is King, which the Australian country singer reportedly wrote to comfort his young daughter, who was unsettled by TV news reports after the 9/11 attacks.
The final song of the service was O God Beyond All Praising, which the church band's singer said was a tribute to Heather Wilkinson, who first suggested the song be added to the church's song list years ago.
'We have lost some very good and loving people,' the band leader said.
Korumburra churchgoers did not appear surprised to see a media contingent at their small Baptist congregation.
Many were friendly and accommodating to journalists, bringing out coffee and yo-yo biscuits to those outside huddled near cameras in the freezing wind.
Four reporters were allowed inside the church for the service and were warmly greeted by those sitting in the surrounding pews.
However, no one wanted to comment about the mushroom trial that has cast unprecedented global attention onto this sleepy town in the foothills of the Strzelecki Ranges in eastern Victoria. Indeed, many locals just want the frenzy to be over.
A note about the Patterson and Wilkinson deaths remains pinned to the church noticeboard.
'We greatly miss Heather, Don and Gail, whether we were friends for a short time, or over 20 years. They were very special people who loved God and loved to bless others,' it says.
'It's been a long journey, and we continue to lovingly support Ian, Simon, and all the Wilkinson and Patterson family members through this difficult time.'
The message ends by asking for the privacy of the families and church community to be respected.
With a 10-week trial now over – having delved into the Patterson and Wilkinson families in forensic detail – the church community may soon get its wish.
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