Lesley Morrison: Husband cradles wife after finding her in their Inglewood home

A community has lined the streets in a final salute to a devoted mum, as her husband shares the heartbreak of the family left behind.

Inglewood mother of three Lesley June Morrison, 43, was found dead in her garage on Tuesday May 25 2021. Picture: Facebook

Inglewood dad and farm worker Scott Morrison spent the morning on May 25 talking to his wife Lesley about their daughter’s birthday present.

By the afternoon he was cradling her body in their Inglewood garage.

The 43-year-old mother of three had been tragically killed after being pinned by a car in a terrible accident in their garage.

“We were talking at lunchtime over the phone,” Scott said.

“I never spoke to her again.”

Four days later, their daughter Olivia unwrapped her mother’s last gift to her — a hot pink bicycle.

Family videos show the eight-year-old in her pastel pink helmet and a Bluey jumper riding circles around the property.

“(Your) mum would have been so happy to see you enjoy your day,” loved ones said.

Scott said his children’s school called at 3.45pm asking if anyone was on their way to collect their kids.

The farm worker rushed to town but as he drove by his family’s home he saw their car in the garage.

“The car had rolled backwards and pinned her between the post and the open back (driver’s side) door,” Scott said.

He said he dragged the car off before cradling his wife’s head onto a pillow and pulling over a blanket.

“But it was too late.”

Victoria police said the devoted mother was found about 4.15pm.

Scott said he felt helpless watching the emergency services.

“I couldn’t do much,” he said.

“It was all a bit of a blur.”

Scott said the hardest part was telling their three children what happened to their mother.

“They just wanted the truth,” he said.

“It was not the best time.”

Three weeks later their children, Jaspa, 16, Olivia, 8, and Lucy, 6, are still processing their mum’s death.

“Lucy, she’s an outgoing kid … she still talks about mum,” Scott said.

“But Olivia is more reserved … she says she doesn’t want to talk about it or think about it.

“(Jaspa) just wants to be busy all the time.”

As for Scott, he said he had spent his time looking at photos of his family on his wife’s phone.

Pictures of their Tasmanian holiday, tours of Wineglass Bay for her 40th birthday, cave exploring, and the unforgettable 2017 Pink concert when Scott bought their tickets while “stuck in a field in the middle of nowhere at 2am”.

“It was a lot of stuff I’ve never seen before,” he said.

“It touched part of you, and you remembered it.”

Scott met Lesley at a friend’s wedding on March 7 2009. Looking back he said it was likely a “planned set up” but the pair were inseparable since.

Inglewood couple Scott Morrison and Lesley June Morrison. The mother of three was found dead in her garage on Tuesday May 25 2021. Picture: Facebook

Scott was born in Powlett Plains and Lesley, Saint Arnaud.

“It was just one of those things … we were both very much alike,” he said.

“We didn’t sit down and do nothing.

“(And) she liked to face her fears.”

Scott said his wife was devoted to her family and community.

“Lesley always complained she had no time,” he said.

“(But) she had a hard time saying ‘No’.”

“She was always on the barbecues, when there was something on, she was there.”

Scott said she enjoyed her work as a cleaner at St Mary’s Primary School and Inglewood Community Neighbourhood House.

“She loved the social life … she knew a lot of people in the community,” Scott said.

Inglewood Community Neighbourhood House manager Kim Hanlon said she cried every day since her colleague’s death.

He said Lesley was a much-loved and admired staff member, volunteer and board member.

Inglewood mother Lesley June Morrison, 43. Picture: Contributed

The town paid tribute to her on Wednesday June 9 when Lesley made her last journey through the town she loved.

Residents lined the streets of her funeral procession with thousands of pink balloons and streamers in a final salute to the woman who touched so many lives.

Her friend Suzi Birthisel said the community was united in their grief over her death.

“It’s almost impossible to blow up balloons and cry at the same time, which was good,” she said.

Ms Birthisel said she wanted Lesley’s children to remember their mum’s funeral as a celebration of her life.

“The girls are so young,” she said.

“It’s one of the worst days of their life.

“But as adults they can look back and remember how she was so special to so many people.”

Inglewood volunteers lined the streets of the Central Victorian town with pink balloons and streamers to farewell Lesley Morrison.

Ms Birthisel said it was a fitting tribute to the friend she knew — a happy, social and open woman with an immaculate sense of style.

“It’s part of her legacy,” she said.

“People who weren’t as connected will now be lifelong friends because of that, because of her.”

Scott said seeing the town dressed in her favourite colour was overwhelming.

“It was awesome, as sad as it was,” he said.

Sadly Covid restrictions meant only 50 people could attend the final ceremony.

“It made you feel upset you couldn’t have more people there,” Scott said.

“It was hard enough picking the 50 who were there – there’s too many people to reel off, everyone helped out unbelievably,” he said.

But if Scott and his family could only invite 50 for Lesley’s service they needn’t have worried about anyone feeling left out – the whole town invited itself to join the cortege, lining the streets in a final salute, each alone with their memories of the woman who raised her own family but was adopted and loved by everyone.