By ZAIDA GLIBANOVIC
ASHLEY (Ash) Gordon, whose death in Melbourne after chasing two burglars was reported nation-wide, was a Latrobe Valley boy – and more than 500 of Ashley’s family and friends gathered at Kernot Hall, Morwell on Thursday, January 25, to say goodbye.
Mourners came together to honour the much-loved doctor in his hometown of Morwell.
The 33-year-old was known as a hard-working man with a warm personality.
Ashley’s older sister, Natalie Gordon, spoke on her grieving family’s behalf.
“Ash was always so driven to succeed. It was that drive that saw Ash win so many awards … and in Year 10, he was even voted most likely to succeed,” she said.
The young doctor graduated from the Monash School of Rural Health in Churchill with honours and went on to become a successful practising general practitioner.
The Gordons raised their family on a farm in Hazelwood South, where as a boy, Ashley enjoyed the country life.
Natalie said Ashley and his four older siblings – Natalie, Tammy, Kerrie and Brad – played with ‘cow patties as frisbees’.
Ashley was a classic country boy going motorbike and horse riding, slashing the hay and driving the tractor out on the farm.
His siblings spoke of their fond memories of their life-loving and energetic baby brother.
“I’m sure I’ll never get over the loss of my little brother – he was a huge part of our lives,” Natalie said.
Letters written by Ashley’s patients, who said that he had saved their lives, were also read to the mourners.
In the first, nurse Claire explained how Dr Gordon cared for her after she was diagnosed with melanoma just months after giving birth to her second child.
“He saved my life,” Claire said.
Ashley’s god-father, Jason Kennedy, also emotionally shared his memories of the young man.
“Your journey on this Earth may have ended, but your laughter, love and warmth of your spirit will linger in our hearts forever,” he said through tears.
As the funeral came to a close, a slideshow of photos played to honour the life of the young man.
The slideshow featured photographs of a young Latrobe Valley boy playing with his siblings on the family farm on quad bikes and horses and his Crinigan Road Primary School photo day.
Ashley worked at many hospitals in Melbourne after earning his medical degree, but at the time of his passing, he was a GP in a Box Hill clinic.
Just last year, Ashley established Redefine Aesthetics, a cosmetic clinic situated in Richmond, specialising in skin health, wellbeing, and anti-aging.
Ashley was found allegedly stabbed to death less than a kilometre from his home following an aggravated burglary in Doncaster, Melbourne, on Saturday, January 13.
Two 16-year-old boys have since been arrested, and have been charged with murder, aggravated burglary and theft.
Ashley’s coffin was driven with police escort to Yallourn Cemetery, where the family had made the plot reservation.
