The healing continues in the shadow of fallen police

Traces of two fallen police officers killed during a shooting ambush hang heavy across a picturesque region still in recovery.

A small plaque labelled "Neal's corner" in his favourite cafe. A refillable animal water bowl outside the local cop shop.

They're gestures that might go unnoticed by outsiders but to the policing community and grieving families, they're sacred.

The memorials will ensure Detective Leading Senior Constable Neal Thompson and Senior Constable Vadim de Waart-Hottart are not forgotten.

The two were on Wednesday remembered for their courage and grit during a service marking a year since they were fatally shot by Dezi Freeman.

They were serving a warrant at the gunman's regional property in northeastern Victoria's idyllic High Country when the ambush unfolded on a stormy Tuesday morning.

The shooting set a deep divide in the community and in the days, weeks and months following, the small town of Porepunkah became known as the starting place for Australia's biggest manhunt.

Freeman, a 56-year-old self-proclaimed sovereign citizen, had fled into bushland amid rampant speculation about where he was and whether anyone was hiding him.

"We consider he may still be in the area. It's a possibility he may be harboured," Acting Deputy Commissioner Russell Barrett said at the time.

The region was placed into lockdown approaching the AFL grand final long weekend as it rolled into the Melbourne Cup.

Marty Robinson, who had known Freeman for decades, told AAP during the 2025 emergency declaration the shootings had left a mark on the town.

"We were almost in virtual lockdown and that led to businesses having no cash flow," recalls Bright and District Chamber of Commerce president and Pepo Farms owner Marcus Warner.

"Obviously there's no playbook for a incident of this nature and it's never occurred in our lifetime, anything of that level."

Mr Warner says the impact was also felt keenly by businesses in surrounding towns.