Cathy McGowan

Ms Mostyn has since revealed that she received abusive messages on social media following that address, saying women in public positions face particularly vicious and personal attacks.

Hundreds of supporters gathered for a vigil in Wodonga last night with former independent MP Cathy McGowan, warning that the attack had struck at the heart of Australian democracy.

Meanwhile, Helen Haynes, Chief of Staff, says her devastated team is planning to reopen the electorate office next week, declaring it important to continue serving the people of Indi.

Story number three, former soldier Ben Robert Smith says billionaire Kerry Stokes spent more than $30 million helping fund his failed defamation case and insists he has no regrets about his military career.

It's an attack on democracy.

This is Cathy McGowan, who was the independent member before Helen Haynes.

and she i mean she made an extremely valid point heather women fear for their safety as they contemplate a career in public life but i mean much more generally too the the the scourge of domestic violence in this country is just off the charts it's just dreadful horrible you can't even it's just impossible to bloody will say how dreadful it is it's horrid and women living in fear all over the country The Governor General, Sam Mostyn, she has revealed that, I mean, she was there yesterday appealing for more civility and public discourse.

And what happens? She wakes up this morning, her inbox is full of bloody horrible, hateful messages.

It's an attack on democracy.

This is Cathy McGowan, who was the independent member before Helen Haynes.

And I mean, she made an extremely valid point here.

The women fear for their safety as they contemplate a career in public life.

But it was also, I think, very much a stand against violence and also a call for a more civil and civic demonstration of good democracy.

And there was a call to action from the former member for Indi, Cathy McGowan, around us being our best selves.

So I think, you know, there was a lot that came out of last night.

You know, we've got a community that's profoundly sad, shocked,

and is in a state of disbelief

and possibly even confusion.

We've got people trying to seek meaning out of what's been a completely senseless, violent act against our elected member of federal parliament.

While you may aspire to be your best self and to tone down the temperature, has what happened to Helen Haynes just brought home the risks to people like yourself, people in public office?

At a vigil in Wodonga in north-east Victoria last night, the community stood firm in solidarity with Helen Haynes.

Her predecessor, former independent member for Indi, Cathy McGowan, addressed the crowd.

And we now know that Helen's heart and head are good.

She's going to get better and she's going to come back fighting.

Good that people are having vigils.

And there was one in Wodonga last night where I gave a message to with her predecessor, Cathy McGowan, who was also someone of a great interest.

compassionate local representative in that beautiful part of Victoria.

I'm glad you mentioned the governor general.

That's Melbourne resident Kerry Preston outside Helen Haynes' office speaking with our reporter Annie Brown.

Cathy McGowan is a much-loved local in the electorate of Indi.

She was a trailblazer as the first ever federal independent member for Indi before her good friend Helen Haynes continued the independent representation of the area, winning in 2019.

She spoke at Wednesday night's vigil in Wangaratta and shared a message for her community, her state of Victoria and the nation with the ABC.

on the consequence for our communities of poor mental health, of domestic violence, of this sense of unsafety.

This is reality in rural and regional Australia.

Cathy McGowan speaking there.

To Australia's most distant territory now.

Ms Mostyn has since revealed that she received abusive messages on social media following that address, saying women in public positions face particularly vicious and personal attacks.

Hundreds of supporters gathered for a vigil in Wodonga last night with former independent MP Cathy McGowan.

Warning that the attack had struck at the heart of Australian democracy.

Meanwhile, Helen Haynes, Chief of Staff, says her devastated team is planning to reopen the electorate office next week, declaring it important to continue serving the people of Indi.

The Australian Signals Directorate, which manages cyber security threats, said its website was among domestic government sites affected by the issue.

The former member for Indi, Cathy McGowan, says her community is grappling with complicated emotions after the alleged attack on their current MP, Helen Haynes.

Ms McGowan is a close friend of Dr Haynes and the first federal independent MP in the electorate.

She says she was holding a workshop on preferential voting ahead of Victoria's upcoming state election when she heard news of the alleged attack.