Mt Evelyn was last week rocked by the tragic deaths of Kane Dadson (above) and Michael Wilson (above left).
By Tania Martin
THE tragic deaths of two young Mt Evelyn men have rocked the close-knit community.
Missing man Kane Dadson, 21 was found dead in Ringwood Lake and local football star, Michael Wilson perished in a house fire on the weekend.
Police found Dadson’s body submerged in the lake following a three-day search.
He went missing shortly after 4am on Sunday 24 May after leaving the Dakota nightclub in Ringwood.
His parents appealed for help to find their son.
But police divers found Dadson’s body shortly after 1pm on Wednesday 27 May.
Police are now compiling a report for the coroner.
Dadson’s funeral will be held on Thursday at Lilydale Cemetery.
Tragedy again struck the town with the loss of Michael ‘Mick’ Wilson in a house fire early Saturday morning.
Wilson, 23, was sleeping in the house in Priestly Crescent when it caught alight.
A neighbour woke to a loud noise shortly after 3am and called CFA crews to the scene.
The single-storey weatherboard home was well alight by the time the brigade arrived.
A man in his early twenties escaped from a rear bungalow unharmed.
The Olinda-Ferny Creek Football Club was shocked to learn early Saturday of the player’s passing.
Footballer and Olinda police officer, Senior Constable Tim Wall had only recently met Wilson, but said he was a ‘terrific fella’.
Sen Const Wall said Wilson was very popular at the club, from the juniors right through to the committee.
“We all thought the world of him …it’s such a huge shock,” he said.
Sen Const Wall said the club offered the players the option to forfeit the matches, but everyone agreed to play for Wilson.
“It would have been what Wilson wanted and all teams won,” he said.
Club president Peter Hayne said Wilson was living with another player from the club, who had decided to stay with his brother that night.
Mr Hayne said early reports to the club indicated a heater caused the blaze.
He said Wilson had played for the club for more than four years and had a large circle of friends.
“The whole group has been shattered,” he said.
Mr Hayne said it was the youngest players who decided to play in memory of Wilson.
“It dragged us on for the day…it was very difficult,” he said.
“80 odd players and netballers were very distressed and by mid afternoon they carried each other along – it was beautiful to see – like brothers and sisters.”
Mr Hayne said the club had organised counselling sessions for players and parents tomorrow night (Tuesday).
Olinda-Ferny Creek Football Club’s weekend from hell continued on Sunday when they found vandals had sprayed graffiti and obscenities on the front of the clubrooms overnight. Monbulk police urged anyone with information to call 9756 6266.
