Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles’ friends have adorned their suburb with tributes in their memory as loved ones call for funds to bring their remains back to Australia. The 19-year-olds from Beaumaris, in Melbourne’s southeast, were among six foreign tourists to die last week after a mass methanol poisoning event in Laos. Local federal MP Zoe Daniel said people across the bayside community had chosen a particular public tribute in support for the teenagers’ families.
“Those who live in (Beaumaris) and surrounds would know there are blue and yellow ribbons on trees and fence posts across the community ...
just to acknowledge the passing of Holly and Bianca and as a show of love to them and their families,” she told ABC Radio Melbourne. “It’s just really important to know just how many people are connected to these girls and these families particularly young people ..
. it’s really an incredibly difficult period for all of those kids.” Their families want to raise awareness about methanol poisoning and have started a GoFundMe in their daughters’ memory.
The page has raised more than $195,000 as of Monday afternoon. “Tragically, their journey, along with visitors from different countries, was cut short when they fell victim to methanol poisoning – a hidden danger that claimed their lives just one day apart,” the fundraising page stated. “This campaign, organised by the families of Bianca and Holly, aims to raise awareness about the dangers of methanol poi.