Justin Van Elst
By Michelle Herbison
FLORAL tributes and candlelight rituals have flowed at Drysdale’s Central Rd after a car crash killed 20-year-old Justin Van Elst on Sunday morning.
Grandmother Pam Davis said Mr Van Elst’s sudden death had “hit the kids of the town hard”.
“Every day and night the young ones are down where the accident occurred until all hours. The tributes on Facebook just go to show the sort of person he was.
“He was loved by everybody.”
Ms Davis said her grandson would have finished a building apprenticeship with Tony Fagan Builders in February.
Gordon Institute of TAFE had recently awarded him as its most outstanding third year apprentice carpenter, she said.
“He would go out of his way to help anyone and everyone. He loved his work and always volunteered to help.”
Ms Davis said Mr Van Elst would regularly spend his lunchbreak repairing household items for elderly people who he met while working on site.
He had also recently installed a football club trophy cabinet at Drysdale RSL, she said.
Mr Van Elst lived in Drysdale all his life, attending Geelong High School, Drysdale Primary School and a Clifton Springs kindergarten.
“He was a good basketballer and a very talented golfer,” Ms Davis said.
“He had just rejoined at St Leonards golf club and had formed a team to play.
“He loved tinkering with cars, computers and phones. If anything went wrong, we’d call on Jussy.
“He was the one who fixed up Nan’s computer.”
Bellarine Police Sergeant Darryl Briody said officers believed speed and wet conditions contributed to Mr Van Elst’s losing control over his car, which slammed into a tree at about 6.25am.
A coroner’s report was due after the Independent went to press.
