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The sole survivor of the deadly mushroom lunch served by accused triple murderer Erin Patterson seemed in good spirits as he led the Good Friday service at his local church.
Ian Wilkinson, 70, lost his wife Heather, 66, his sister Gail Patterson and brother-in-law Don Patterson, both 70, as a result of a lunch laced with toxic mushrooms served at Erin Patterson’s home in Leongatha, in the east. Victory on July 29.
In contrast to the emotional service he led in February when he first resumed his role as pastor at Korumburra Baptist Church, Mr Wilkinson seemed cheerful.
‘It’s a good day for Good Friday, (the church’s support) has been great. Have a great day,’ he told the congregation according to the Herald of the sun.
Erin Patterson’s estranged husband Simon, who was due to attend the fateful lunch but pulled out at the last minute, was among the small congregation.
Ian Wilkinson appeared in high spirits as he led a Good Friday service at Korumburra Baptist Church today (pictured from a February service at the church)
Wilkinson was the only survivor of a deadly mushroom lunch held at Erin Patterson’s home on July 29, 2023. Pictured, Korumburra Baptist Church in eastern Victoria.
Mr Wilkinson did not learn of the deaths of his dinner companions until he woke up from an induced coma several weeks after lunch.
When he took the pulpit again in February, he spoke through tears of how God had sustained him since ‘Heather, Gail and Don went to be with the Lord.’
“The road is sometimes difficult, but God is good and he is with us,” Mr. Wilkinson said as his heart faltered and he fought back tears.
“He promised to never leave us or abandon us and I can say that’s true.”
Wilkinson revealed he would have celebrated his 45th wedding anniversary that week with his wife Heather, who died in hospital just days after the lunch.
He reportedly told the congregation that it had been a “pretty big week.”
“At the beginning of the week, it had been six months since Heather, Gail and Don went to be with the Lord,” Mr. Wilkinson said.
“And yesterday was our 45th wedding anniversary, so it’s been a pretty big week, but I’m grateful for everything that God has given me, God has done through me.”
The pastor, who has spent 25 years at the church, jokingly asked the congregation if they remembered a Bible teaching series that was “discontinued” last year.
‘Does anyone remember our series on Genesis that we started last year?’ she asked.
Does anyone have any vague memories of that? It was dramatically interrupted in the middle of Genesis chapter two.’
Ian Wilkinson is pictured with his wife Heather, who died a few days after the mushroom lunch.
Erin Patterson has been charged with three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder after serving her sentence. Her next court appearance will be April 22.
Ms Patterson, 49, will appear at Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court via video link on April 22, where she will formally plead guilty to three counts of murder and five counts of attempted murder.
She is accused of intentionally including poisonous mushrooms in a beef wellington served for lunch.
Patterson told police the mushrooms were mushrooms from a local supermarket chain and dried mushrooms, which he bought months earlier from an Asian grocer in the Mount Waverley area, but he did not remember which.
Victoria Police spent 20 weeks preparing a brief of evidence against Ms Patterson, who was arrested at her home on November 2.
He is currently behind bars at the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre, where sources say he needs protection from other inmates due to his alleged crime.