Police probe possible magic mushroom death after another tragedy in the Ballarat region

Toxicologists are set to investigate whether psychedelic mushrooms killed outwardly healthy 53-year-old mother Rachael Dixon at a wellness centre near Ballarat/

Ringwood North woman Rachael Dixon became sick and died at Soul Barn Creative Wellbeing Centre on Sunday morning.

Toxicologists are set to investigate whether psychedelic mushrooms killed outwardly healthy 53-year-old mother Rachael Dixon at a wellness centre near Ballarat in central Victoria.

The so-called magic mushrooms will be one line of inquiry for experts who could take months to determine how Ms Dixon died at the weekend.

Ms Dixon died at the Soul Barn Creative Wellbeing Centre in Clunes, about 30km north of Ballarat, after police suspect she drank a possible poison, although there is no suggestion the death was deliberate.

The poisoning angle will be one line of inquiry and the death will be investigated by the coroner.

In the fourth high profile death to rock the Ballarat region this year, the Ringwood North woman became sick and died at Soul Barn Creative Wellbeing Centre in the early hours of Sunday morning.

Two others were also taken to hospital but released.

Police are investigating whether the trio consumed a toxic drink at the retreat and all of them were taken ill, but that Ms Dixon died from the poison.

It is mushroom season in southern Australia and Clunes is located close to forests where mushrooms are ubiquitous during autumn and winter, some species growing under trees, others in open fields.

They are often hard to identify without considerable expertise.

Rachael Dixon died at the Soul Barn in Clunes after digesting a drink believed to contain magic mushrooms.

Soul Barn founder Michelle Mullins has operated a string of wellness companies for more than a decade.

Australian Securities and Investment Commission documents show those companies included Aroma Wild, Pure Essentials Wellbeing, Breathe Wild Bliss and Aroma Zen.

A number of the firms have been deregistered, the documents show which can be a normal process when companies are no longer active.

Pure Essentials Wellbeing was registered in June 2013 and deregistered two years later in November 2015. Breathe Wild Bliss was also registered in July 2013 and deregistered in November 2015.

Ms Dixon’s son, Matthew, took to social media to pay tribute to his mother.

“To the most loving, most caring person I’ve ever known can’t thank you enough for everything you ever did for me and all the support you gave me, words can’t begin to describe how much I will miss you, wish I could give you one last hug,” he wrote online.

“Love you infinity Mum.”

Her sister, Penny Muller-Dixon, also posted online and said “words cannot express the heartbreak” the family were experiencing.

“Life is so … short please hug and love those around you,” Ms Muller-Dixon wrote.

Rachael Dixon who died at the Soul Barn in Clunes after digesting a drink believed to contain magic mushrooms.,

The health retreat advertises psychic mediums and facials made from foraged ingredients but it is unknown whether the drink was sourced on site or procured elsewhere.

After two other people at the retreat also fell ill and were taken to hospital, investigators have been probing whether a mushroom-based drink was responsible at the town, about 30km north of Ballarat, in central Victoria.

A police spokeswoman said investigations were ongoing and the victim died at the scene after ingesting a drink about midnight.

“Moorabool Crime Investigation Unit detectives are investigating the circumstances following the death of a woman in Clunes on Sunday,’’ police said. “It is believed a woman was at a retreat on Fraser Street when she became ill after ingesting a drink about 12am.

“The 53-year-old Ringwood North woman died at the scene. Two other people were taken to hospital for observation.

“Investigations are ongoing and police will prepare a report for the coroner.:

Other potentially harmful toxins and substances haven’t been ruled out at this stage but the incident comes at the height of mushroom season.

Three people died in August last year in Victoria after a meal of allegedly toxic mushrooms was served at a lunch in Leongatha, in South Gippsland.

There is no suggestion of wrongdoing in the weekend death and illnesses, or that death cap mushrooms were in the drink.

The swift recovery of two of the victims suggests mushrooms other than death caps may have been involved.

Death caps can take days and weeks before their full impact on humans.

Soul Barn in Clunes advertises itself as an “alternative and holistic health service” and provides treatments including sound healing and meditation. It was contacted for comment.

The business was registered by founder Michelle Mullins in Nov­ember 2023 and is in the same town where alleged murder victim Hannah McGuire lived.

There is a tribute on the Soul Barn site to McGuire, 23, whose body was found on April 5 in a burnt-out car southwest of Ballarat; her former boyfriend has been charged with murder.

Ballarat, the major centre close to Clunes, is also where alleged murder victim Samantha Murphy was from. The Clunes/Creswick areas have been suggested as possible locations for Murphy’s body, which hasn’t been found.

Michelle Mullins, owner of Soul Barn. Picture: Instagram

Soul Barn was advertising a “Slow Beauty Medicine” session for the day the 53-year-old died at the weekend, with the business offering “ritual skincare and reiki to soothe body and spirit”.

It also advertised on social media a skincare program that included foraged mushrooms. “Jude (the practitioner) weaves ancient skincare rituals and combines them with modern techniques to create nurturing yet active facials. Using infused herbal oils sourced from local farms & wild foraged plants, plus handcrafted skincare from around the world especially chosen for its potency and purity,’’ the social media campaign reads.

“Techniques such as skin sculpting, lymphatic drainage, facial massage, Gua Sha and micro current are woven into bespoke treatments to deliver your best skin, all while uplifting and enriching your soul with Reiki

“This is a facial like no other, one you will never forget!’’

The skincare practitioner was contacted for comment.

Soul Barn holistic retreat at Clunes.

According to the Soul Barn Facebook page, a “Sound Healing Immersion” session due to take place on Sunday following the death was cancelled.

The incident comes less than a fortnight after acting chief health officer Evelyn Wong warned of the dangers of poisonous mushrooms growing in Victoria.

The April 4 alert focused on two key mushrooms, stating that the “cooking, peeling or drying” of the mushrooms doesn’t lessen their toxicity.

“Poisonous mushrooms including death cap mushrooms and yellow-staining mush­rooms occur in Victoria during autumn as the weather becomes wetter and cooler,” Ms Wong said.

“There is no home test available to distinguish safe and edible mushrooms from poisonous mushrooms.”

Only one death cap mushroom can kill a full grown adult, while the yellow-staining mushroom is just as dangerous because of its appearance.

 “The yellow-staining mushroom is the cause of most poisonings due to ingestion of wild fungi in Victoria,” Ms Wong said.

“This mushroom looks very similar to regular purchased mushrooms or ‘cultivated mushrooms’ and to edible wild mushrooms such as the field mushroom.”