Tragic death

By Kath Gannaway
THE death of Leanne Dovaston in a tragic accident on the weekend has rocked family and friends in Marysville and Healesville, where she was well-known.
Ms Dovaston, 49, died on Saturday morning when a ride-on mower she was driving tipped into a dam at the Marysville Trout Farm, pinning her underneath.
Ms Dovaston was a partner with her parents Jenny and Les Dovaston in the popular tourist business.
She was also an active member of the Rotary Club of Healesville.
The death is a heartbreaking loss for the Dovaston family who escaped with their lives, but little else, after the Black Saturday bushfires tore through the property.
A devastated Mrs Dovaston said her husband was alerted when the motor on the mower stopped about 10am.
He went to investigate and managed to free his daughter and pull her out of the water.
“It is just an horrific thing, and so devastating for Les who wasn’t that far away when he heard the mower stop,” Mrs Dovaston said.
Mr Dovaston said it was not unusual for his daughter to operate the farm machinery.
“She would be on the ride-on mower one minute, and on the big tractor, the next,” he said.
Mrs Dovaston said she had come in to help run the business after the fires and had reached extraordinary heights.
“She wasn’t afraid to say ‘I’m here, what can I do’,” she said.
“She would have a go at anything; loved getting things done and, like her father, was a compulsive worker,” she said.
Rotary Club of Healesville president Dennis Stanton said club members were devastated by the loss, and the tragic circumstances of Ms Dovaston’s death.
“She and her partner George (Patterson) were expected down (from Marysville) to help out with our roadside collection on Saturday morning; we were totally shocked when we heard,” he said.
Mr Stanton said Ms Dovaston had been a key member on the debutante ball committee, a regular helper at fund-raising barbecues and was looking forward to both the debutante information night this week, and to riding with other members to Adelaide as part of Rotary’s Ride to Conference in April.
“Leanne was such a lively and strong character.
“It’s just terribly, terribly sad,” he said.
Ms Dovaston’s son Luke is returning from America, where he planned to marry soon.
Marysville police will prepare a report for the Coroner.