“There’s certainly a lot of concern and a lot of desire to help and support,” Schnerring told AAP.
“We’re trying to offer what we can.”
Locals have filtered through the church praying for the missing mother’s safe return.
Saturday is seven days into the search after she was last seen leaving her Eureka St home in Ballarat East about 7am on Sunday to go for a run.
Victoria Police have 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.
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.”
The search is so far yet to turn up any sign of 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 Murphy on Friday.
“Until something is clearly found, people want to maintain that hope right up until the last minute,” Schnerring said.
