Mushroom poisoning victims’ son Simon Patterson tells of last exchange with dying mum

The son of a couple who died after eating mushrooms suspected to be poisonous has shared one of his family’s final messages from hospital.

Don and Gail Patterson passed away after ingesting poisonous mushrooms.

The son of a beloved couple who died after eating suspected death cap mushrooms has spoken publicly for the first time, and shared one of his family’s final exchanges with their mum — Gail Patterson — who contacted them from hospital.

In front of about 400 hundred mourners who packed out the Korumburra Recreation Centre in South Gippsland who gathered to farewell Gail and Don Patterson, their son Simon fought through tears to tell mourners his mum’s last message to their family group chat before she passed.

“Lots of love to you all,” Mrs Patterson told her family from Dandenong Hospital.

Mourners arrive to the memorial service in Korumburra.

At the conclusion of the service, Simon thanked the nurses and doctors who he said “let Mum visit Dad one last time” before being taken to the intensive care unit.

“As Mum and Dad lay in comas at The Austin hospital … each day, we were unsure whether they would recover or not,” he said.

“It was comforting to know that when we said ‘see you later’, it was true. The hope of ‘see you later’, it’s ours.”

Mr Patterson received a new liver when he was in hospital, but his body was “too sick” and he died Simon said.

Such was the generosity of his parents, who lived a humble life of strong Christian values, they occasionally sent their four children “lumps” of money as they would inherit it eventually.

They also constantly cleaned out their belongings, not wanting to burden their family in death.

“Mum and Dad were proudly bible believing Christians throughout their lives. They followed Jesus Christ wholeheartedly,” he said.

Simon said his parents always waved to each other and their families to say goodbye, because it could be the last time.

“(Mum and dad) were a team, working together at life,” he said.

“The fact that they died on consecutive days, reflects the togetherness as a couple they always worked to hard to create.

“Dad was the primary breadwinner, mum was the primary homemaker and they were both very active parents.”

Daughter-in-law Erin Patterson cooked the fatal lunch.

Mr Patterson was probably more well-known in the community due to his nearly two decade career as a schoolteacher, while Mrs Patterson held close friends in smaller groups.

They lived a “humble and simple” life, in which Mr Patterson was always conducting scientific experiments, while Mrs Patterson was known for her renowned Anzac biscuits.

Simon spoke of his parents’ time in China and Botswana when he was young, and remembered hiking to the base of Mount Everest with his father not long ago. He noted he was healthier and fitter than many of the young people at the camp.

While they spread the word of god wherever they travelled, Simon said his parents were avidly curious people who respected the teachings of other faiths.

Before Simon spoke, the service was opened by Reverend Fran Grimes who said she spoke on behalf of all the churches in the Korumburra and Leongatha communities, and on behalf of Ian Wilkinson – a pastor who ate the same meal as Mr and Mrs Patterson but survived.

His wife, Heather Wilkinson, also died following the lunch on July 29.

Erin Patterson, Simon’s ex-wife and the woman police say cooked a deadly beef wellington meal that resulted in their tragic deaths, was not at the service.

Rev Grimes commended the community for protecting each other from “heartless speculation and gossip” amid the intense media scrutiny spurred on by the story.

Mourners at the memorial service of Don and Gail Patterson.

Before Mr and Mrs Patterson’s grandchildren shared recorded messages with the services, the community all stood and slapped at the end of Simon’s reflection on the Patterson family life.

Braving rain and wind before the service, they bowed their hands and prayed during Rev Grimes’ sermon, while others raised their hands and sung to a song performed live titled “Praise God from Whom all Blessings Flow”.

Mr Patterson’s colleague Richard Collyer and friend Sharon Hirst also spoke at the service to reflect on community life in the small town of Korumburra, while Colin Patterson – Simon’s brother – reflected on their parents’ early years playing tennis and holidaying on the coast in Dromana.

Recordings of messages by the Paterson’s grand children were shared, with one saying he loved the science experiments Mr Patterson would concoct with them.

“I remember the time we made rocket fuel,” he said.

Another said “nana and pa always put us first”. “We always enjoyed every second with them. We will miss them.”

Son Simon Patterson.

The Australian first revealed four people had suspected mushroom poisoning in early August.

Ms Patterson cooked her former in-laws — Don and Gail Patterson, and Ian and Heather Wilkinson — a beef wellington meal at her home on July 29.

Police suspect the deadly meal contained death cap mushrooms.

Mr and Mrs Patterson, both 70, along with Mrs Wilkinson, 66, succumbed to their illness and died shortly afterwards.

Ms Patterson’s ex-husband Simon has never publicly commented on the story that has engulfed an ordinarily quiet community in South Gippsland.

Ms Patterson denies any allegations she poisoned the beloved family.