By VICTORIA STONE-MEADOWS
NEISHA McLean was just 22 years old when her life was tragically cut short in a car accident on Thursday 28 January.
Neisha lived in the Dandenong Ranges her whole life and had strong connections to her community through sporting groups, schools and friends.
Family members have described her as a fun-loving girl, kind- hearted person who was always selfless, driven and putting other people’s needs before her own.
A good student throughout her school life, Neisha attended Montrose Primary School and then Monbulk College where she excelled in sports and in class.
It was through an advanced sports class during her Year 10 studies that Neisha first became involved with the Waratah Beach Surf Life Saving Club that would become such a big part of her life.
Family members have said she was very passionate about life saving, particularly development and training of up and coming lifesavers.
“That’s what she loved to do,” one family member said.
“She was always about giving to other people and doing things for other people.
“She was totally selfless.”
Making her way through the ranks of the club, Neisha was patrol captain at the Waratah Beach SLSC, was involved with Surf Life Saving Victoria in running development camps.
At the age of 14, Neisha had decided her true calling was medicine and set her sights on reaching that goal.
She had completed a Bio-Medicine degree at the University of Melbourne and was set to begin a fifth year of study at Monash Medical Centre in Clayton this year.
“Her goal was to work in retrieval medicine,” her family said.
“She wanted to work on the chopper crew and be a doctor, she was always keen to that and then later on look at things like doctors without borders.”
Neisha touched many in the Mount Evelyn and surrounding communities, with connections to the Yarra Ranges Volleyball Club, the Montrose Tennis Club and other community organisations.
“She was always about giving to other people and doing things for other people.”
On a tragic afternoon in Pakenham, Neisha was involved in a two-car collision where her Hyundai Excel veered into a Holden Rodeo with fatal consequences.
Neisha passed away at the scene of the accident where she did not suffer any prolonged pain.
Family, friends and all those touched by the extraordinary kindness of Neisha said goodbye to a remarkable young woman at a ceremony in Lilydale on Tuesday 9 February that was attended by about 700 people.
“We’ve been overwhelmed by support from all members of different parts of Neisha’s life,” family members said.
The family of Neisha McLean have asked for donations to be made to the Waratah Beach SLSC in lieu of flowers.
Donations can be made through a direct transfer to:
BSB: 633 000
Acc: 156069627
Donors are asked to write “For Neisha“ in transaction note and, for tax, deductible donations email treasurer@waratahbeach.com.au.
Neisha McLean was well loved by her community, her friends and her family and will be greatly missed by all whose lives she touched with her endless compassion.
