‘Forever in our hearts’: Tears flow as loved ones say final goodbyes to Laos mass poisoning victim Holly Bowles

Family and friends of Holly Morton-Bowles, who died after suspected methanol poisoning during a trip to Laos, have paid tribute to the Aussie teenager at a touching memorial service at her high school. Ms Morton-Bowles died in a Bangkok hospital on November 22 after consuming a drink allegedly laced with methanol during a night out in Laos with best friend Bianca Jones, 19. The pair were on the holiday of a lifetime, travelling through Thailand and Laos during November. They were staying in Nana Backpackers Hostel in the tourist town of Vang Vieng when the alleged mass drink-spiking incident occurred. More than 1000 mourners attended the funeral service at Beaumaris Secondary College in Melbourne’s southeast. Outside the school’s entrance, flags were lowered to half-mast to pay respect for the teenager. Blue and yellow ribbons tied to the fence quivered in the wind as mourners walked through the front gates. Soft music could be heard playing before the service. Emerging through a plethora of attendees in black, a sea of young women in pink and white flooded the school grounds, paying tribute to Ms Morton-Bowles’ favourite colour with rose-coloured bows in their hair and a fluttering of other light colours. While attendees were encouraged to wear bright colours at the funeral for Bianca Jones on Friday, several attendees collectively decided to don soft pink to Ms Morton-Bowles’ service. Speaking on behalf of the school and Ms Morton-Bowles’ parents Shaun and Samantha and brother James, Beaumaris Secondary College acting principal Peter Bartlett described the day as the “most difficult time” of the family’s lives. “We would like to thank the people of Australia, Canada and the rest of the world for the outpouring of love, support and compassion during this extremely difficult time,” Mr Bartlett said on behalf of the family. “Your kindness has been a source of strength and comfort for our family. “Today is a profoundly significant day for our family as we come together to celebrate Holly’s life and spirit. “Holly was loved and adored by so many people, and today is a reflection on her life, however she will remain forever in our hearts.” Mr Bartlett said a GoFundMe dedicated to Holly and Bianca had been launched to support the ongoing mission. Shortly after 4pm, the echoes of Chappell Roan’s hit Red Wine Supernova vibrated through the building as the procession began. Young children slowly and respectfully crossed the road and sombrely walked by in their uniforms as mourners gathered outside the school grounds where the funeral took place, one carrying a bouquet of flowers as the doors of the gymnasium shut behind them. The memorial card featured two pictures of Ms Morton-Bowles, one cuddling a cat as she beamed to the camera, the other of her softly smiling while sitting at a cafe, wearing a cream jumper, drop earrings and a layered necklace. Written on the memorial card were lyrics to the Teenage Dads song, Sunburnt. Throughout the procession, as photos of Ms Morton-Bowles’ life flashed on the screen, an array of upbeat music filled the school’s gymnasium, including ABBA, Billie Eilish, Spacey Jane and Mason and Princes Superstar, melodies that reflect and celebrate the teenager’s vibrant and joyful life. In the funeral’s final moments, Billie Eilish’s L’Amour De Ma Vie pulsed throughout the building – a simultaneously heartbreaking and buoyant composition of love and loss. “You were the love of my life,” the American singer’s voice echoed through the building as pallbearers slowly carried her casket, adorned with an array of pink, red and white flowers, from the gym to the hearse. Lowering their heads, parents Shaun and Samantha were seen among the crowd; mourners could be seen hugging and weeping, cradling each other as they exited the building. Traffic was redirected after the hundreds of mourners spilled out onto the street, wiping away tears as they gathered on both sides of Reserve Rd outside the school as the hearse crawled up the road on its final journey. Ms Morton-Bowles was among six other foreign nationals who died in the drink-spiking event, including her best friend, Ms Jones, who died in a Thailand hospital on November 20. The four other tourists that died in the alleged drink-spiking incident include British lawyer Simon White, 28, US man James Louis Huston, 57, and two Danish women, Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20 and Frela Vennervald Sorensen, 21. Following the death of the two girls, their families received an outpouring of support, with hundreds of tributes dedicated to the “vibrant” and “adventurous” girls. Ms Morton-Bowles’ family have asked for people to donate to the girls’ GoFundMe page in lieu of flowers. So far, the fundraiser has raised over $414,000, which will offer financial relief to the families, supporting awareness of methanol poisoning and launching a safety initiative for travellers.