By Rowan Forster
The community is mourning the death of a “gentle giant”, a “devoted” husband and a “nurturing” father who was killed in a horrific motorcycle crash near Ahern Road on Friday morning.
Visesio Natoealofa, 28, was airlifted to hospital after the Princes Highway collision but tragically succumbed to his injuries.
Tributes have poured for the Pakenham local, as residents have ramped up pressure for VicRoads to consider the installation of traffic lights at the junction of John Street and the Princes Highway.
Future Kings, the John Street hairdresser where the 28-year-old worked, has gone above and beyond to commemorate his life – opening the store on Melbourne Cup Day in an unprecedented bid to raise funds for the grieving Natoealofa family.
Barber T-Jay – one of Visesio’s close friends – said it was the least Future Kings could do during a heart-wrenching time.
“We were very sad to hear the news and we always enjoyed his company in and outside the shop,” he said.
“Though there is nothing we can do to ease the pain for his family, we can pull together to try take some financial strain off them in this sad time.”
The store is touting that 100 per cent of proceeds will be donated to the 28-year-old’s wife and two children.
In wake of the tragedy, Mr Natoealofa’s loved ones have remembered him as a vibrant soul with a colourful personality.
“My cousin was a selfless family man,” Gussy Sekone said.
“He was kind-hearted and worked two jobs to look after his little family.
“He had a smile that was contagious and I’m absolutely shattered.”
A GoFundMe has since been created to support Mr Natoelofa’s widow – garnering more than $400 in community contributions over a 12 hour period.
Tuki Faanati, another relative, said he was privileged to have Mr Natoealofa as a cousin.
“Vise moved to Australia From South Auckland to start a better life and to provide a better future for himself,” he said.
“He has always been known to have a big smile whenever you see him and he wears his heart on his sleeve.
“‘His talk was always gentle but he had the loudest unforgettable laugh.
“He was one of my most humble family members even though what was going on around him was not always sunshine and rainbows.”
The motorcyclist was riding his cherished Yamaha on the Princes Highway when a dark grey Mitsubishi Outlander performed a U-turn at Ahern Road and collided with the motorcycle at about 6.50am.
Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives arrested a 22-year-old woman at the scene, but she has not been charged.
In a terrifying instance of deja vu, emergency services rushed to the same intersection at John Street 24 hours later – responding to yet another crash.
It has sparked a community push for traffic lights to be installed at the deadly juncture.
“It’s time we write to the council and our local representatives, because there have been fair too many crashes at this spot,” Sara Weidman said.
“I’ve personally had near-collisions there a number of times.”
Friday’s fatal accident brings the state’s road toll to 170 for 2018.
