A festival set up during a drought to celebrate the resilience of those who live and work on the land will be used to rally Lockhart residents around one another amid the town's latest heartache.
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Described as a community that always punches above its weight, the town will use its Spirit of the Land Festival - on October 11 and 12 - to come together following a tragedy that could take years to overcome.
Lockhart mayor Peter Yates told The Daily Advertiser yesterday there weren't plans for a community forum at this stage, but part of the festival was likely to be dedicated to the Hunt family - Geoff, Kim, Fletcher, Mia and Phoebe.
All five were found dead on their Boree Creek property this week with suspected gunshot wounds.
If they did, they would have tried to prevent a tragedy that has rocked the foundations of Lockhart.
The Hunt family property was picture perfect, with a lush green crop and flowering yellow canola shining brightly against the blue sky yesterday, as neighbour Richard Day told The Daily Advertiser of "a very fun-loving, community-minded family" that loved water skiing, tennis, football and motorbike riding.
"It's a little bit hard to believe it's all happened, to be honest," Mr Day said.
Detectives working on the case said there had been considerable pressure, hardship and tension following a car crash where Kim Hunt's ute rolled twice, two kilometres from her home in 2012.
Police believe the strain and hardship brewed within the quiet farmer to the point where he exploded. The case is being treated as a murder-suicide.
After speaking with close friends police believe "it was more than likely" the ongoing strain that made the 44-year-old snap.
Friends say the family were not under financial pressure and were about to build a dream new homestead on their "Watch Hill" property surrounded by lush wheat and canola fields.
Close family friend Paul Routley said he will never be able to make sense of what has happened but wished Mr Hunt had asked for help.
"The stress that's been put on them from the accident just immense, absolutely immense," Mr Routley said.
The accident almost killed Mrs Hunt, who worked to learn to walk and talk again. A nurse, she had been able to return to work in an educational role and recently got her licence back.
On Wednesday, staff at the Lockhart MPS remembered Mrs Hunt most as being a mother, a fantastic nurse, colleague and friend.
The service is operating as normal, however staff are doing it extremely tough, MLHD director of operations Ken Hampson said.
"It's a reminder to us that life is precious, but we have a family in health, we will rally around and we're open and providing clinical services for our patients," he said.
The Hunt children - Fletcher, 10, Mia, 8, and Phoebe, 6 - were three of just 74 students at Lockhart's St Joseph's Primary School, which remembered them in the school newsletter distributed to pupils and families on Thursday.
"Our sincerest sympathies go out to the family and friends of Geoff, Kim, Fletcher, Mia and Phoebe at this tragic time."
St Joseph's principal Debbie Sheather paid tribute to the children, saying the school was dealing with the tragedy "as best we can" and they would be sorely missed by the school community.
"They played with them, they worked with them, they were friends with them, and we'll miss them hugely," she said.
Flags have flown at half mast and a liturgy was held at the school on Friday morning to celebrate and give thanks for the lives of Fletcher, Mia and Phoebe. A counsellor will brief parents on Wednesday.
The family of Kim, Geoff and the children broke their silence on Thursday, when Kim's sister Jenny Geppert issued a statement to the media.
"All that can be felt is an indescribable numbness and all-encompassing, heart-wrenching sadness with losing my sister, brother-in-law, nephew and nieces," Mrs Geppert said.
"My most beautiful, spirited sister, Kim, whom I idolised and adored; my dear brother-in-law, Geoff, who was incredibly generous and kind-hearted; my beautiful nephew and nieces Fletcher, Mia and Phoebe, who I cherished and thought of as my own children.
"All are loved dearly. The void that is left in our lives is immeasurable. They are profoundly missed."
On hand to help the community work through the disbelief and devastation are more counsellors.
The Murrumbidgee Local Health Network has dedicated two mental health clinicians to Lockhart for the next two weeks.
On Friday, those personnel will walk the main street of the verandah town, handing out resources and calling into businesses.
Resources are also being distributed in the town and nearby Boree Creek.
Lockhart Shire Council staff were yesterday compiling a list of support services to provide to the community that would be made available through a number of channels, including the organisation's website and Facebook, general manager Rod Shaw said.
* Support is available for anyone who may be distressed by calling Lifeline 131 114, Mensline 1300 789 978, Kids Helpline 1800 551 800.