TEN years ago today a 22-year-old Clunes nurse was brutally murdered for no apparent reason.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
And despite an exhaustive homicide investigation to identify a killer or motive, no one has been charged with the murder.
Nina Nicholson, who worked in the children's ward at St John of God Health Care, was bludgeoned to death with a blunt instrument on September 10, 1991.
Today the tiny township of Clunes is still overwhelmed by the death of a woman described as "a girl of good repute", who was "well-respected in the township".
The Courier reported 10 years ago that people of all ages living in Clunes were too scared to stay home or go out by themselves.
Locals were buying security doors and windows to protect themselves against a murderer still on the loose.
Prior to the murder back doors were left unlocked for neighbours to "visit for a cuppa".
One local said last week that these days, the murder of Ms Nicholson was talked about occasionally in the township, particularly around the anniversary of her death.
"There is not the fear here that there once was _ but we all remember it," she said.
And a friend of Nina's family said although locals would all like to know who was responsible for her death, the fear that once gripped the township had subsided "a bit."
"It will always be in the back of your mind _ she was an innocent girl and a great kid . . . she was very quiet.
The woman, who wanted to remain anonymous, said she attended Nina's wedding before the young woman began her nursing career.
"There is always that hurt there _ Clunes will never forget what happened."
Ms Nicholson's father Maurice Jones and her brother Andrew discovered her battered body.
They arrived at the house in Suburban St where Ms Nicholson lived with her husband to find her lying face down on the concrete porch.
She had multiple head injuries delivered by someone wielding a "blunt instrument". A close examination of the scene later indicated Ms Nicholson had struggled violently with her killer.
She was wearing her nurse's uniform.
Detectives never found the murder weapon.