The Natte Yallock farm where John and Douglas Streeter were found dead
FOR the town of Natte Yallock, it has been a week like no other.
The double murder of Douglas and John Streeter has rocked the tiny town and surrounding districts, leaving the whole community mourning.
Today, there will be what can be described as the biggest sense of closure yet for friends and family of the murdered duo, with a joint funeral to be held in Avoca.
The brothers will be farewelled at a memorial service at the Uniting Church in Avoca at 2pm, before a private family burial later in the day.
After an initial reaction of shock and disbelief, tributes for the pair began to flow late during the week.
A number of death notices paying tribute to the pair began to appear in The Courier, most notably from Douglas’ wife, Helen, and his eldest son, Anthony.
Douglas’ other son, Ross, has been charged with the double murder and is due to reappear in court in June.
“We have had over 42 years of sharing and caring and working together. You will be forever loved with a love beyond telling, forever missed with a grief beyond tears,” wrote his wife Helen.
In his tribute, Anthony Streeter wrote about his fond memories of talking about local football with his uncle and spending time at the Natte Yallock farm, where both men eventually met their demise.
But it was the heartfelt words he penned for his father that shed the most light on the man Douglas Streeter was.
“You are an inspiration to us, you will never know how much we relied on your advice and guidance in life,” Anthony wrote.
“No words can ever describe the love and respect we have for you. This will never change, and we will always look after Mum.
“For the rest of our lives, there is one thought that will keep us going and it is this: Doug Streeter was my father. Gone and not forgotten.”
From the moment the news broke there was a double murder in town, the entire community fell numb.
As media crews began to swarm to the section where Streeter Lane was blocked off by police, the reaction of Joanne Westin, an employee of the local Pyrenees Advocate, summed up the dampened and somewhat eerie mood.
As other media tried to get hold of information no other outlets had or scampered to get the perfect shot, Ms Westin stood back and watched, tears occasionally welling in her eyes.
She knew the victims would most likely have been known to her; that is how a country area works.
For days afterwards, questions continued to circle. There was the obvious question as to who murdered both men, but why it could have possibly happened.
Douglas was heavily involved in the Avoca community through the RSL, senior citizens group and sporting bodies.
John was known as more of a reclusive sort and never married or had children, but was nevertheless much respected and known as a good farmer.
The list of people willing to pay tribute to the pair could have gone on forever – local councillor Robert Vance, Avoca RSL president Tim Bradley, Natte Bealiba Football Netball Club president Alan Mills – all had nothing but kind words to offer.
Even those who didn’t directly know either of them said they felt numb.
Lorraine Gatford, president of the Avoca Senior Citizens, said it was likely she had seen the brothers before, without even realising.
“It could have been someone I say hello to every day without even realising who they are. But it makes you wonder why it possibly happened,” she said.
There is no doubt the community is still in shock over the murders; there is no equation for how long that will last.
The court proceedings for Ross Streeter will likely go on for months, if not years.
But today the community will come together in both mourning and celebration of two lives well lived – the lives of Douglas and John Streeter.
patrick.nolan@fairfaxmedia.com.au
