'The kindest soul': Holly Bowles, 19, remembered after Laos poisoning
The kindest soul. A uniting force among her footy teammates. A hard worker who had been living her best life, travelling and making new friends.
That’s how Holly Bowles’ tight-knit coastal community is remembering the Melbourne teen who died on Friday after a suspected methanol poisoning incident while holidaying in Laos. Her best friend and travel companion Bianca Jones died a day earlier.
Holly Bowles, 19, died of suspected methanol poisoning on Friday.Credit: Facebook
The pair became ill after a night out in the Laos tourist town of Vang Vieng last week. After being found seriously unwell at their hostel, they were sent to separate hospitals in Thailand.
Bowles’ father Shaun told Nine News his heart was broken but the “beautiful” 19-year-old was at peace.
Holly Bowles graduated from Beaumaris Secondary College in 2023. Credit:
“Holly was living her best life travelling through South-East Asia, meeting new friends and enjoying incredible experiences,” he said.
“We find comfort and solace in knowing that Holly brought so much joy and happiness to so many people.”
Her younger brother James posted online that Bowles would always be in his heart.
Bowles graduated from Beaumaris Secondary College last year.
Acting principal Peter Bartlett said: “You could not find a kinder soul”.
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He said it had been an “incredibly difficult” week for the school.
“We are heartbroken … Our heartfelt sympathies go out to Holly’s family and friends, and all who knew her,” he said in a statement to The Sunday Age.
“We also send our condolences to Bianca Jones’ family and friends at this very difficult time.”
The 19-year-old was a two-time premiership player at Beaumaris Football Club, having progressed through the club’s juniors program.
Members of the women’s team have started tying blue and yellow ribbons – the club’s colours – around their homes and throughout the community.
The blue and yellow Beaumaris Football club flies at half-mast. Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui
President Nick Heath said both Bowles and Jones – who also played for the club – were known for their generosity of spirit and “innate ability to unite people”.
“Two beautiful lives lost, both with so much potential, love and spirit, leaves us both numb and without words,” Heath said.
“The Beaumaris community is a tight-knit one, and we will continue to feel this loss for some time to come.”
Bowles’ and Jones’ premiership flag from 2022 is flying at half-mast at the club. The number 32 jersey Bowles wore in her first senior season this year will be retired.
At least four other foreign tourists in Vang Vieng have died from the suspected mass methanol poisoning – two young Danish women, an American man and 28-year-old British lawyer Simone White. At least 10 others are seriously ill.
Methanol is a cheap and deadly form of alcohol, mostly found in crude brews and anti-freeze.
To finance her dream trip, Bowles had picked up extra shifts at Frank’s cafe in Cheltenham, where she was a popular staff member across her 2½ year stint.
Harry Butler, the owner of Frank’s, described the 19-year-old as “the best of us”.
“She was sweet, incredibly kind, reliable, funny, diligent, hardworking and extremely capable. Believe me when I say that I couldn’t fault her,” Butler wrote in a Facebook post.
“I’m just so thankful you walked through our door with a résumé, kid. I’ll never forget you mate.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also paid tribute to Bowles, saying: “This should have been a trip filled with joy and wonderful memories – it is beyond sad that is it not to be”.
Albanese said the government would continue to provide support to the teens’ families and local authorities.
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Police in Laos have ordered the closure of the Nana Backpacker Hostel where the two Australian women were staying.
Guests had been given free shots at the hostel bar on the night they were allegedly poisoned, believed to be November 11. The hostel denies that its drinks made the guests sick.
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