The tight-knit community of Eynesbury has paid tribute to the “talented, loving and close family” from the town who lost their lives on Malaysia Airlines flight MH17.
Malaysian-born Shaliza Zain Dewa, 45, her Dutch-born husband, Johannes van den Hende, and their three children, Piers, 15, Marnix, 12, and Margaux, 8, were among 298 people killed when the Boeing 777 was shot out of the sky over Ukraine.
The family moved to Melbourne from Kuala Lumpur seven years ago and lived in Caroline Springs before moving to Eynesbury about three years ago.
They were returning home from a holiday in Amsterdam when the plane was shot down early last Friday.
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About 700 community members came together at Eynesbury Homestead on Sunday afternoon in what was described by distraught residents as a “beautiful memorial”.
Flowers and candles lined the homestead’s verandah, while five white balloons were released into the sky.
A condolence book has been set up and already contains pages of heartfelt messages.
An Eynesbury Homestead spokesman said management and staff were “shocked and saddened to hear that a local family were aboard the Malaysian Airlines flight”.
“We’ve been told by Eynesbury residents the family were much-loved members of the community,” the spokesman said.
“As somewhat of a community hub, the homestead is often the meeting point where neighbours become friends and we’re sure there will be many people affected by this tragic and senseless loss.”
Students from Bacchus Marsh Grammar School, which all three children attended, were there, as were Piers’ teammates from Melton Phoenix Soccer Club and members of Melton Swimming Club, where Marnix swam.
Grammar school principal Andrew Neal said the family’s deaths were a tragic shock.
“It’s beyond comprehension,” he said. “It’s a tragic and senseless loss of life . . . they were a talented, loving and close family and to have that snuffed out at such a young age is devastating.”
Mr Neal said the children would be remembered as “lovely kids, academically bright, talented in sports but, most importantly, terribly nice kids”.
He said grief-stricken students at the school would have access to a counsellor.
“We’re concentrating on ensuring the school community deals with this loss and we will think of the best way to remember the family,” Mr Neal said.
He said the school would also spend a lot of time questioning how such a senseless act was allowed to happen.
A fellow student remembered her peers as “sweet, kind and gentle souls who will be missed by many”.
And Melton Phoenix president Steve Williamson said the club community was devastated by the loss.
“They were great people, really nice people, a nice family and down to earth,” Mr Williamson said.
“It’s unbelievable . . . the mood [at the club] is very solemn.”
– with The Age
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