Aja Styles
December 10, 2010
Friends have poured out their grief online after Mitch Gillam was killed in a Bali scooter smash.
Friends have poured out their grief online after Mitch Gillam was killed in a Bali scooter smash.
A 20-year-old West Australian man who died after a suspected scooter accident in Bali yesterday has been remembered as a "little legend" by his mourning family.
Mitch Gillam and a friend were apparently involved in a motorcycle crash while on a group trip with mates from Perth and Kalgoorlie, in WA's Goldfields.
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Mr Gillam's father, Ken, said his son lived life to the full.
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The Gillam family has described Mitch as a 'fun-loving' bloke who was loved by all.
"He's just got such a massive network of sport and school mates and everyone loved the bloke," he said. "He's a little legend."
Early reports suggest the other man was found unconscious with a broken leg and was treated in hospital. He had since been discharged but had little memory of the accident, Mr Gillam snr said.
Mitch Gillam had grown up in the South-West WA town of Kojonup and had gone to school at Aquinas College in Perth before moving to Kalgoorlie to take on an electrical apprentiship at one of the mines.
Mitch Gillam (centre) relaxes with friends in a photo from his Myspace page.
Mitch Gillam (centre) relaxes with friends in a photo from his Myspace page.
"He really loved his family and his friends. We were everything to him and he was everything to us," his aunt Cyndy Gillam said.
"He could do tricks with golf balls, ride wheelchairs down stairs. He was just fun-loving."
Mr Gillam's older sister Tarli, 23, is enlisted in the army and has previously been deployed on a tour of duty to Iraq. She is currently stationed in Darwin, but was flying back to Perth today to be with her family.
"Her parents have been night after night sick with worry about how she's going to get through this, and he goes only on a holiday to Bali with a few friends and you know...," Mrs Gillam said.
"It's just heartbreaking for the family to have to go through this."
Mitch Gillam was a prominent footballer at Railways Football Club in Kalgoorlie, and was also a well-known cricketer in the mining town.
Railways president Garry Giles said Mr Gillam was a bright young midfielder who won runner-up in the fairest and best awards during the 2010 season after joining the club last year.
Kalgoorlie Mines Rovers Football Club President Peter Hunter said he had hoped to recruit him from they opposition side, and described him as a "really nice bloke".
Aquinas College Dean of Development Peter Robertson said he was a wonderful young man.
"Mitch was one of those kids around the school that you couldn't help but know," Mr Robertson said.
"He was terrific, friendly guy and he made the most of every opportunity at school - he won a number of academic awards, took part in service group programs and through sport, which was one of Mitch's great passions."
Tributes flow on Facebook
Mr Gillam's friends and teammates immediately hit Facebook to pay tribute to the young man, with words of sadness and support for the family flowing online.
Emily Thompson posted this morning "Mitch ill love you forever, they better have TABs up there for you."
Friend Brett Glaskin’s status updates on the social networking site expressed his disbelief at Mitch's death: "so shattered... such a tragedy to happen to a mate like you Mitch ... I know you will ravage up there mate .. see you again one day mate ill never forget you xx."
Another post read: "Gillam ... So many great memories ,, I can't think of a better bloke than you .... I can't believe that a guy with such a big heart has been taken from us ... Thanks for making everything so hilarious, you were one of a kind mate .. Gonna miss you so much xx".
The last status update that Mitch Gillam posted on his page on November 24 said simply "7 sleeps" – an indication of his excitement at the upcoming Bali trip.
The sadness was echoed in the words of other posters. Kylie Nunweek wrote: "My thoughts go out to the friends and family of Mitch Gillam. Such a tragic accident on what should have been a great adventure."
Adam Henley wrote: "Wishing the gillam family, friends and all the boys the very best. See you soon enough mate. Rip mitch"
And Sharne Christie added: "Mitch gillam you were a great person and everyone loved you rip xxxx"
The Department of Foreign Affairs has revealed very little about the accident, saying the circumstances of the man's death were unclear and "will be a matter for local authorities to determine".
"Consular officials from the Australian Consulate-General in Bali are providing consular assistance to the man's friends in Bali," a DFAT spokesperson said.
The Department was assisting the man's family in Australia.
- with Lucy Rickard
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