Remembering mushroom murder victims, Gail and Don Patterson and Heather Wilkinson

Australia Broadcast Center

09-07-2025

The victims of Erin Patterson's deadly beef Wellington lunch are being remembered for their altruistic nature and kind hearts, just days after a jury convicted their killer of murder.
Don and Gail Patterson and Gail's sister, Heather Wilkinson, died from death cap mushroom poisoning following the lunch while Heather's husband, Ian Wilkinson, suffered serious injuries.
They all lived in the regional Victorian town of Korumburra, south-east of Melbourne, which is home to roughly 4,500 people.
Korumburra educator Andrea Lewis crossed paths with Gail, Don and Heather through work they had all done at local primary and secondary schools.
"They were just lovely. They were funny ... they were the nicest people."
Ms Lewis said Gail and Heather were part a learning assistance program she managed, helping disadvantaged children.
"The way they worked with those children and what they were able to bring out in them was just phenomenal," Ms Lewis said.
"They just had real talents and skills in all those sorts of areas."
Heather also taught migrant women, which Ms Lewis said was more evidence of her giving nature.
"Once again, she was looking at a group who were marginalised in the community and saying 'I can do something about that', and she did."
She believed it was their faith that led all three to live such selfless lives, acting with "humour, good grace and humility".
"I think they believed that we all had a greater mission or purpose beyond ourselves," Ms Lewis said.
"We had to just get out there and help others. We're in a fortunate position and we had to go out there and make things better for others, particularly young children."
Local councillor Nathan Hersey was mayor at the time of the lunch.
He said the high-profile case had rocked the small community as those close to the families dealt with their loss.
"At the centre of this is a tragic story and a tragic loss," he said.
He said the local community had strong connections and he was proud of its ability to come together and support one another through a challenging time.
"From this point forward, our community will have the opportunity to have closure, to complete the grieving process," he said.
For Ms Lewis, while the verdict had been delivered, she doesn't feel like the ordeal is over just yet.
"We have to remember what's at the heart of this — those four people and then those that extend out from them," she said.
Remembering her colleagues as "model citizens", Ms Lewis said they were "fabulous human beings" who the wider community could learn a lot from.