Musician killed

By Ed Merrison
FAMILY and friends of a local musician killed last week have paid homage to a gentle soul who became an icon of the Dandenong Ranges.
Darren Jones was fatally stabbed in an apparently random attack on a Lilydale-bound train near Box Hill on the afternoon of Thursday, 23 February.
Following the news of Mr Jones’s death, loved ones gathered at The Aztec Bar in Belgrave to pay tribute to a family man, friend and outstanding musical talent.
Aztec Bar owner Glen Scolyer said Mr Jones would be missed by musicians all over the Hills.
“Just about every band in the Hills has had its heart taken out. (Mr Jones) was a musical genius with a smile for everybody,” he said.
Mr Jones, who was soon to celebrate his 29th birthday, grew up in Healesville, where his mother still lives.
He moved to Belgrave about five years ago and was living with girlfriend, Kate Salisbury, and son Jett, who turns two in May, at the time of his death.
Mr Jones’s 24-year-old sister Jess also lives in Belgrave, while his other sister, Corinne, 26, lives in Berwick.
Sister Jess said: “He always told us he loved us. He was a great brother and a really good son, and so good for his girlfriend Kate and little boy. He was an amazing father.”
Local resident Ben Kelly, who knew Mr Jones for 12 years, said Mr Jones was always prepared to put himself out for family and friends.
“His loved ones always came first. He loved his sisters almost to nothing.
“He loved his parents and was the shining light of their whole life,” he said.
Mr Jones’s violent death appeared to be at odds with a gentle and protective nature.
“He was such a loving, gentle person. Even when he was tiny he always accepted everyone. “In the playground, if a person was getting picked on, he’d always go and help. He was very protective,” Ms Jones said.
Mr Jones’s influence and popularity extended throughout the Hills through his music.
He regularly played solo shows and in various bands in venues throughout the region, including at Belgrave’s Aztec Bar where Ms Salisbury was an employee.
The grandson of accomplished trumpeter Kingsley Jones, Mr Jones had recently completed an advanced diploma in jazz guitar and performance at Box Hill TAFE and was two weeks into a three-year bachelor of music performance degree at the Victorian College of the Arts.
“He had been playing since he was 12 – writing songs, playing guitar, drums, bass, sax, anything. He was just an amazing musician.
“He wrote the most amazing, heartfelt songs,” Ms Jones said.
Mr Kelly described Mr Jones’s playing as positive and soulful.
“Darren Jones was an icon of (Belgrave), an icon of this mountain and I’d almost guarantee he would have become an icon of the music world the globe over,” he said.
Friends said Mr Jones had become a leader whose passing would have a huge impact on young people in the area.
“There are a lot of kids in our tribe and he was always looking out for them,” Ms Jones said.
“He was admired by everyone; everyone looked up to him. He brought a lot of people together in the most beautiful ways,” Mr Kelly added.
“It’s a tragic loss to the Jones family, a tragic loss to humanity and a tragic loss to the world that they will not get a first-hand taste of Darren Jones.”
Healesville Primary School principal, Howard Jones, who taught Darren for three years at Chum Creek Primary School, said he had fond memories of his former pupil. “Darren was a gentle fellow. He was a friend to everyone and his family is devastated by his death,” he said.
Healesville resident Chelsea McNabb, a close friend of Mr Jones’, said his death was a great loss to the Yarra Valley.
“It is tragically sad that this has happened,” she said.
Ms McNabb, one of the organisers of last weekend’s Mt Toolebewong Festival, said her friend’s presence was greatly missed.
“Darren was due to perform at the festival. It was very sad that he couldn’t,” she said.
“The sister of one of his best mates sang a beautiful tribute song in his honour and it was very moving.”
•Kilsyth resident Cory James Acuna, 23, has been charged with one count of murder and appeared at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 24 February.
He was remanded to appear again on Thursday, 18 May.