Heather’s son,David,struggled to hold back tears as he paid homage to his mother.
He said the 66-year-old loved caring for her children and managed to “materialise food from few resources”.
David,one of four children,recounted the horror of the siblings later discovering the ham sandwiches they were eating at school were made of ox tongue.
“It’s fair to say that in her life,Mum had a significant impact on those around her,” he said.
“She was humble and didn’t want to be put up on a pedestal. She was quick to say sorry if she overstepped the mark.
“She was small but she was strong.”
Heather’s hobbies included gardening,making teddies,sewing little jackets for friends,and hunting for a bargain. She was also an avid baker and devoted grandmother.
Heather and Ian met through their work at the Peter’s ice-cream factory,after Ian overbalanced on his chair and fell backwards,landing in a bin.
David joked his father wanted to propose to Heather pretty much immediately. “She was so gorgeous,” he said.
After marrying in 1979,Heather and Ian became an inseparable team,working together at theKorumburra Baptist Church when Ian became a pastor.
The couple became the backbone of the Korumburra community,volunteering their spare time to help others and work on community projects.
Neighbours have previously described Heather as a warm and kind woman,who would bake biscuits for her neighbours and lend a helping hand to those falling on hard times.
During the memorial,the family also played an emotive audio recording of Heather and Ian’s six grandchildren sharing their favourite memories of their “grandma darling gorgeous”.
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They remembered her as a loving grandmother with a cheeky smile and a knack for sewing,baking cookies and making all things fun.
“Every Christmas she would give each cousin a stocking filled with goodies and treats,” one said. “She was the kind of person to leave a permanent mark on your heart.”
The Wilkinson family asked mourners to donate to the Austin Hospital and Galmi Hospital in Niger,West Africa,through a fundraising websiteinstead of bringing flowers.
“Beloved wife,daughter,sister,mum,favourite mother-in-law,grandma,and friend to many. Hers was a life well lived,and we love her,” the website reads.
About 300 people attended a separate memorial to honourGail and Don Patterson at the same venue in August. The couple wasburied in a private ceremony attended by close family members.
At the memorial for the Pattersons,friends and family described the couple’s giving nature and unwavering commitment to their faith,which saw them travel the world as missionaries.
Wilkinson’s recovery has been hailed a miracle by locals in the small South Gippsland town,who said the community had been praying on their knees since the well-regarded pastor fell ill. Several churches in town have held special prayers for the families since the poisonings were first reported.
After Wednesday’s service,locals spilled out into the foyer of the recreation centre to greet and embrace Ian and other members of the family.
In a statement to the media releasedfollowing his discharge from the hospital,the Wilkinson family said the milestone marked “a moment of immense relief and gratitude”. “The medical team’s expertise and compassion have been a source of comfort and hope throughout this journey,” it read.
Police have not provided any updates on the case since an initial press conference in August,where they named Erin Patterson as the main suspect in the investigation.
Erin Patterson has denied any wrongdoing and previously told the media:“I didn’t do anything;I loved them. I just can’t fathom what has happened.”