THERE has been an outpouring of community grief at the news that three Korumburra residents have died, on Friday and over the weekend, allegedly as a result of mushroom poisoning.
Another Korumburra resident, a 68-year-old man, is still in hospital.
The four people, including two sisters, are members of the Korumburra Baptist Church, which came together for their Sunday morning service this week where prayers were shared for the deceased and also the recovery of the other man, Ian Wilkinson, their church leader.
Police have issued the following statement:
Police have been notified in relation to an incident where four people were taken to hospital with suspected poisoning on Sunday, July 30.
The four people, two male and two female, became ill after eating a meal at a private residence in Leongatha the previous day.
It has been reported that wild mushrooms may have been the cause.
Police were notified that a 66-year-old woman and a 70-year-old woman, both from Korumburra, passed away in hospital on August 4.
A third person, a 70-year-old man passed away in hospital on August 5.
A 68-year-old man remains in hospital.
“At this time the exact circumstances are still being established and it is not known if the matter is suspicious,” according to police.
“The investigation into the incident remains ongoing and police will liaise with the Department of Health in relation to the matter.”
Prayers for the deceased were the focus of a packed Korumburra Baptist Church service on Sunday.
“We don’t understand why these bad things are happening but we trust in your love,” they said during prayers on Sunday morning.
As well as praying for the deceased, the congregation prayed for the recovery and return of their pastor, Ian Wilkinson, who remains in hospital.
They have asked that the names of the deceased, who have been acknowledged on social media, not be reported on at this time.
As well as their involvement in the church, some of the people were closely linked with the Korumburra Secondary College and other organisations in the town.
Two of the deceased produced ‘The Burra Flyer’ newsletter for many years and all four are highly regarded within the general community of Korumburra where they have been strong contributors over many years.
South Gippsland Mayor Cr Nathan Hersey and fellow Strzelecki Ward councillor Cr Jenni Keerie were asked to speak on behalf of the local community.
Cr Hersey said Korumburra was an incredibly close-knit community with a high level of volunteerism, which was highly prized locally, making the deaths of three community contributors so hard to deal with.
Cr Hersey described those involved as "exceptional people who had given generously to the local community in a meaningful way over many years'.
"It's a really, really difficult time for so many people, not only the family and friends, but also the many people across a wide cross-section of the community, in Korumburra and the surrounds, who knew and loved them.
"What we are seeing, as we often see in times of loss, is people coming together to support the family and we have heard from their family members that they are feeling the love and the support but we also ask that they be allowed to deal with their grief privately as they go through this difficult time."
Cr Hersey said the Council had reached out to offer what support it could but beyond offering the community's sincere condolences and support, the family hadn't asked for anything further.
Cr Jenni Keerie said the community, especially the friends of the deceased, were still shocked about the incident and the fact that the community had lost three such "strong, kind and generous" community members in one hit.
"It's an absolute tragedy.
"We'll pull together as a community to get through this but we've lost a great store of kindness in Korumburra this weekend, with the loss of these much-loved and valued community contributors."
Cr Keerie said the best way to deal with the loss was to share that same spirit of kindness with each other, especially over the next few weeks and months.
Related article: https://www.sgst.com.au/news/update-grieving-family-thanks-community-for-love-and-prayers
