Mentone Girls’ Secondary College mourns loss of Gerry Van Den Berg after death

The investigation into the tragic death of a much-loved gardener on a Mentone school’s grounds is underway as the community mourns the man’s death.

WorkSafe has confirmed it is investigating the tragic death of a much-loved Mentone Girls’ Secondary College maintenance worker.

Gerry Van Den Berg, who has worked as Mentone Girls’ Secondary College maintenance worker for more than 10 years, died while performing works on the school grounds.

It is understood Gerry Van Den Berg, 67, was on the roof of a building when he fell through a metal grate structure to the concrete below at about 2:15pm, on Thursday, March 23.

He died in hospital on Friday.

The death is the sixth confirmed workplace fatality for 2022.

There were 13 work-related deaths at the same time last year.

Much-loved maintenance worker Gerry van den Berg.

Several members of the school community have told the Herald Sun they are “saddened” and “shocked” by the incident, saying he was a “wonderful” person, who was the “heart and soul” of the school.

Support has also been provided at the school for students and staff distressed by the incident.

In a letter sent to families by Mentone Girls’ Secondary College on Friday afternoon, principal Linda Brown said the school community expressed its “sincere condolences” to Mr Van Den Berg’s family and friends.

“I am very sad to inform you that, despite all the efforts of the ambulance workers and hospital care, he has passed away,” Ms Brown wrote

“We express our sincere condolences to his family and friends. Our friend and colleague loved working at MGSC, working with the students and staff, and knowing that he made a difference to the people and the students at the school,” she said.

“We have arranged support for staff and students at the school today and into next week.

If you have particular concerns about your child’s response to this tragedy, please let us know so we can make sure they receive any support necessary.”

Mr Van Den Berg was a much-loved member of the school community who was part of a bid in 2014 to help the school attract $3.2 million in funding for desperately needed maintenance.

He was often acknowledged by school leaders for his work around the Mentone campus.

In November 2017, special mention was made of Mr Van Den Berg’s rescue of a young sulphur-crested cockatoo chick which fell from a nest.

He built the bird a temporary home where it could be cared for by its attentive parents until ready to fly.

Mentone Girls’ Secondary College

In December 2017, Mr Van Den Berg was again thanked for his day-to-day maintenance of the school and in 2018 for setting up the hall for the house music competition.

In November 2021, a photo of him cleaning up after a storm was published by the school in the newsletter.

“A special acknowledgment to Gerry who after the recent big storm quickly cleaned up fallen branches and made trees safe with a chainsaw and hedge pruner to ensure classes and exams were not disturbed on a busy Friday morning,” the notice said.

A Department of Education spokesman said: “We offer our deepest condolences to the friends and family of Mr. Van Den Berg, a maintenance worker at Mentone Girls’ Secondary College, who after a tragic accident sadly passed away after being taken to hospital.”