Reflection and prayer for missing mum’s safe return
The Ballarat community is praying for Samantha Murphy’s safe return seven days into the search for the missing 51-year-old.
The mother was last seen leaving her Eureka St home in Ballarat East about 7am on Sunday to go for a run.
Victoria Police has scaled back their operation after combing through an extensive area including Mount Helen, Canadian and Buninyong in recent days.
The Country Fire Authority and State Emergency Service were part of the search effort, with the latter officially stood down as of 5pm on Friday.

SES personnel are seen at a staging area along Somerville road in Buninyong near Ballarat. Photo: AAP
Missing persons squad detectives took carriage of the investigation on Friday.
“Police continue to be in regular contact with Samantha’s family regarding the developments of the search and the status of the investigation,” a spokeswoman said.
“The investigative stage continues and as any new information comes to hand identifying areas of interest, the search will be scaled up.”
Tiny town prays
The tiny town of Buninyong, about 11km south of the city, was a hive of activity on Friday as emergency crews focused their search for the missing 51-year-old in the area.
Buninyong Anglican Church is just metres from the police station that has served as the base command for the search operation.
In dappled afternoon light filtered through stained-glass windows, church minister Mark Schnerring lit a candle for the missing mother.
A sign out the front invites parishioners in, offering space for reflection and prayer for Ms Murphy.
“There’s certainly a lot of concern and a lot of desire to help and support,” Mr Schnerring told AAP.
“We’re trying to offer what we can.”
Locals have filtered through the church praying for Ms Murphy’s safe return.
The search is so far yet to turn up any sign of Ms Murphy, who has been described as a physically and mentally strong woman.
She and her husband Michael Murphy’s business Inland Motor Body Works at Delacombe was open on Friday after he fronted media with their eldest daughter, Jess, who pleaded for help to find her mother.
Locals were still out scouting property and bush tracks for signs of Ms Murphy on Friday.
“Until something is clearly found, people want to maintain that hope right up until the last minute,” Mr Schnerring said.
Anyone with information about her disappearance is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.
—AAP