Helen Haines remains critical, three days after car attack
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A keen runner, Helen Haines has lost both of her legs due to her injuries in Monday's attack. (Supplied: Jaime Chubb)
Three days after being struck by a four-wheel drive outside her north-east Victorian electorate office, independent MP Helen Haines remains in a critical condition.
The 65-year-old has lost both legs due to her injuries in the attack, which has caused widespread shock and intensified concern about safety for elected officials, especially women in politics.
Floral tributes have continued to be added outside Ms Haines's Wangaratta office, with grief still raw among local and interstate visitors alike.
Helen Haines's electorate office has become a gathering point for community members to show their support for her. (ABC News: Dallas Freedman)
Several women stopping at the office today told the ABC they had noticed Ms Haines's integrity and compassion from afar and felt compelled to detour by the Murphy Street address with a bouquet.
"I just always felt she had a great compassion and her policies aligned with my beliefs," Newcastle woman Peta Diercke said.
"She just seemed like a very well-rounded, sensible politician."
Newcastle resident Peta Diercke has followed Helen Haines' politics for years since seeing her speak in parliament. (ABC News: Annie Brown)
The electorate office has been closed, but volunteers turned up with water bottles to tend to the flowers in the hot sun.
Ms Haines's chief of staff Kaz Rourke said her team was hopeful of re-opening the office next week.
"Most of us were in the office when the incident occurred and some of us were involved in Helen's immediate care, so this has been deeply traumatic for the team," she said.
"We are receiving a great deal of support and my priority right now is making sure Helen's staff are as okay as they can be.
"I'm so very proud of them and know Helen would be too."
In 24 hours since Ms Haines's husband Phil Haines requested donations to Save The Children Australia in lieu of flowers, the charity has seen an influx of more than $400,000.
CEO Mat Tinkler described the outpouring of financial support as "humbling" and "overwhelming".
"I've never seen something quite like that attached to an individual," he said on Thursday.
He said the organisation would use the money to bolster its support to vulnerable children.
Save the Children Australia CEO Mat Tinker said his organisation had been amazed to be nominated by the Haines family to receive donations as a way of honouring her. (ABC News )
Accused attacker next due in court in February
Ms Haines's alleged attacker, 43-year-old Brendan Nugent, has been charged with three offences related to the crash and faced court briefly on Wednesday.
Mr Nugent was not asked to enter a plea and did not apply for bail. He is due back in court on February 4 for committal mention.
The alleged motivation for the attack remains unknown, with Police Commissioner Mike Bush saying investigators would "explore every element, angle and avenue to work that out".
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