As the community grieves Melbourne teens who may have been poisoned by methanol, teammates tie ribbons
With the death toll from a suspected methanol poisoning in Laos rising to six, tributes have been pouring in for two Melbourne teenagers who passed away while on vacation in southeast Asia. One day after her best friend, 19-year-old Bianca Jones, passed away in another Thai hospital, Holly Bowles, 19, passed away on Friday in a Bangkok hospital. Last week, while on vacation in Laos, the women from Beaumaris, in the southeast of Melbourne, became unwell in the well-known tourist resort of Vang Vieng alongside a dozen other visitors.
Six deaths have been connected to the probable methanol poisoning incident in Vang Vieng thus far, including the deaths of two Australians, a British woman, an American, and two Danish visitors. All of the impacted tourists are thought to have ingested methanol-laced beverages. Bowles’ and British lawyer Simone White’s deaths were verified on Friday. White’s parents expressed their sadness over the loss of their “beautiful, kind, and loving daughter.”
On Saturday, the Beaumaris Football Club, for whom both Melbourne women had played, posted a tribute to Bowles, whose death was confirmed as fellow players had gathered for a private get together to commemorate Jones. “In somewhat poignant circumstances, news of Holly’s passing came to light as our Senior playing group came together in solidarity last night. As a club, we continue to be heartened by the countless messages of support we have received,” the club said in a Facebook post on Saturday.
“The Bowles and Jones families appreciate with gratitude the overwhelming outpouring of love they have received, in this their darkest hour.” According to the club, women’s squad members have started tying the club’s colors, blue and yellow, in and around their homes and the neighborhood “as a sign of solidarity and unity.”
“The Beaumaris community is a tight knit one and we will continue to feel this loss for some time to come. Two beautiful lives lost, both with so much potential, love and spirit, leaves us both numb and without words,” the club said in the Facebook post. “The Beaumaris Football Club will continue to honour Holly and Bianca by continuing to uphold our values of togetherness, care, compassion and mateship. Their impact on all of us will forever be remembered with a deep sense of gratitude, primarily due of their generosity of spirit and their innate ability to unite people.”
Bowles’ parents confirmed her death on Friday, saying they were always so incredibly proud of their daughter and she was “now at peace”.“We find comfort and solace in knowing that Holly brought so much joy and happiness to so many people,” they said.“Holly was living her best life travelling through Southeast Asia meeting new friends and enjoying incredible experiences.”
Bowles worked for more than two years at Frank’s Cafe, which also honored their coworker, whom they called a “staple” of the team. “Holly was the best of us. She was sweet, incredibly kind, reliable, funny, diligent, hardworking and extremely capable,” the cafe posted on Instagram.“Believe me when I say that I couldn’t fault her.”
