A Fern Hill man killed in a collision last week has been remembered as a loving father who was the “life of the party”.
John Wilson, 30, was on his way to work when his sedan and a truck collided on Greendale-Trentham Road on January 4.
Mr Wilson, who was a mechanic at Springfields Garage in Ballan, died at the scene, leaving behind fiance Teresa and two-year-old son Logan.
The Moorabool community is rallying around the young family and a crowdfunding page set up in Mr Wilson’s honor has raised more than $5000 in the past week.
Rebecca Treadwell said her colleague’s death had sent shockwaves through the small community.
“It’s my duty to find out what’s happened when someone doesn’t turn up to work. I rang John’s phone and it went straight to message bank that morning,” Ms Treadwell said.
“I rang Teresa and said to her he may have broken down. She got in her car and came across the crash at the same time as police. It’s a really hard situation.”
Ms Treadwell helped organise an online auction with donated goods last Wednesday and collection tins were placed around Ballan.
Mr Wilson’s childhood friend Laura Garner set up the online page to help raise funds for Teresa and Logan.
“It’s shocking to lose a friend, but the real tragedy is that he left behind a baby boy and a fiance,” Ms Garner said.
“Logan won’t grow up with a father.”
Donate at bit.ly/2D0T5mB.
