Dr Ash Gordon’s heartbroken sister has broken down in tears as she recalled their final goodbye – as his girlfriend, family and friends flocked to his hometown on Thursday to lay him to rest.
Hundreds of mourners piled into Kernot Hall, in Morwell in Victoria’s Gippsland region, at 1pm pay tribute to the beloved doctor – almost two weeks after he was allegedly murdered in a home invasion.
Devastated guests could be seen hugging and consoling one another as they made their way into the hall, including Dr Gordon’s girlfriend Dakota Nagel, who was dressed in a long black dress and $1,400 Christian Louboutin stilettos.
The ceremony began with a rendition of Linkin Park’s Shadow of The Day, as mourners wiping away tears sat in pews behind Dr Gordon’s dark blue coffin, adorned with yellow and green flowers.
Funeral conductor Alicia Dowsett said Dr Gordon was a ‘strong, passionate, driven, funny, cheeky and inspiring person’ with a ‘genuine want and need to help people’.
Ms Dowsett said while mourners were bonded by ‘anger, grief, heartache, confusion, love and “whys”,’ she urged everyone to put aside negative emotions for the service to instead celebrate his life.
Dakota Nagel looked overwhelmed with grief at the funeral of her boyfriend Dr Ash Gordon
The hairdresser clutched a vape as she wiped away tears following the emotional service
She wrapped her arms around a friend after saying her final farewell to Dr Gordon
Ms Nagel had cut a solemn figure as she arrived at the funeral service
Ms Nagel adjusted her broad-brimmed black hat as she entered the hall
Hundreds of mourners packed into the tiny hall, with hundreds more watching the service remotely via livestream
Devastated friends and loved ones consoled each other as they made their way into the service
Two women are pictured making their way to the ceremony at Morwell, in Victoria’s Gippsland region, on Thursday
Taking to the podium, sister Tammy Gordon broke down as she recalled how she held her brother’s hand for the last time on Wednesday.
‘It was the hardest moment of my life,’ she said.
‘I feel numb inside and I can’t imagine life without him.’
Dr Ash Gordon was allegedly killed during a home invasion in Doncaster, in Melbourne’s east, earlier this month
Tammy said the last time she saw her brother was when the family united for Christmas.
She said she would forever cherish their last moment together – when they turned to each other to say their goodbyes before returning home.
‘He gave me a big hug and I said “I love you bud” and he said “I love you” back,’ she said.
‘With a broken heart, I say goodbye.
‘Thank you for being my brother.’
Dr Gordon’s sister Natalie said while most people know her brother as a ‘big buff dude with a grin that charmed everyone’, that same grin ‘once belonged to a ‘scrawny boy’ who loved playing sport.
Natalie said Dr Gordon and his four older siblings – her, Tammy, Kerrie and Brad – played with ‘cow patties as Frisbees’ while growing up on a farm in Hazelwood, and would ride dirt bikes and tractors.
She recalled how she had the privilege of being his ‘first patient’ after she cut herself when they were young and her little brother raced her into the house before wrapping her up in bandages.
Friends and family paid their final respects as Dr Gordon’s coffin was loaded into a hearse
One young woman lay her head on the coffin
Guests hugged one another as they met at the service
Relatives and friends were seen speaking to the funeral conductor as they mingled outside, waiting for the ceremony to begin
A funeral director carried flowers out of a hearse and into the hall
Dr Gordon’s best friend Tristen Standing was seen hugging another man after getting out of a car
Mr Standing fought back emotion as he embraced another man for a hug
Two women and a man dressed in black are pictured arriving at the service
There were tears flowing after the funeral had concluded
Ms Nagel looked beside herself as she was comforted by another mourner
Red-eyed mourners watched on solemnly as the hearse drove off carrying Dr Gordon’s coffin
Guests wore all-black as they clutched photos of the late doctor
Dr Gordon’s parents Glen and Katherine said they had ‘no words to describe the unimaginable pain’ they have felt since he was [allegedly] ‘ripped away from us’.
Sister Kerrie Gordon said her little brother always viewed himself as the protector, despite their age gap.
She recalled how he told someone off when he was seven-years old for throwing a ball at his pregnant sister.
Brother Brad Gordon said his brother ‘chased his dreams and through the will to succeed, he fulfilled his dreams.
‘You made the most of your 33 years here with us, but who knows what you could have accomplished with more,’ he said ruefully.
Best friend Tristan Standing recalled how the pair grew up together, lived as housemates, and shared a mutual bond for video games.
He said Dr Gordon ‘always had a habit of showing up’ when he needed him, citing a time when he turned up at Mr Standing’s grandmother’s funeral to give him support.
Tammy Gordon (centre) broke down in tears as she gave a eulogy for her brother. Her sister Natalie Gordon is pictured to the left
A slideshow played to guests showed Dr Gordon in his youth, growing up on a farm riding tractors
Dr Gordon’s Godfather Jason Kennedy said: ‘Ashley Glen Gordon. A name synonymous with passion and achievement. You could tell when he was younger by his eyes and cheeky smile.’
Another photo showed Dr Gordon beaming with a smile as he posed for a photo alongside Ms Nagel
Mr Standing thanked Dr Gordon’s parents for giving him a gender-neutral first name because, ‘if I have a son or a daughter, I know what they will be called – after a great man.’
Mourners were also read two letters penned by Dr Gordon’s patients who credited him with saving them or a relative’s life.
In the first, nurse Claire told how Dr Gordon cared for her when she was diagnosed with melanoma just months after giving birth to her second child.
‘I saw him every three months for the past three years – more than my extended family,’ she said.
‘He saved my life and I will forever be indebted to him.’
Damien and Nathan Spears said they took their young son to Dr Gordon in March 2019 after he was coward punched, resulting in his jaw being broken in two places.
Seven months later, their son was suffering pain and asked his parents to take him to Dr Gordon, who immediately recognised the boy had appendicitis.
The Spears said Dr Gordon’s sense of urgency – instructing them to go straight to hospital straight away and ringing the hospital in advance – saved their son’s life, as his appendix began leaking right as he made it to the operating table.
A guard of honour was formed around Dr Gordon’s blue coffin as it was carried out of the hall
A woman was comforted by a man as she wiped away tears
One woman was seen resting her hand on the coffin as she said her final goodbyes to Dr Gordon
Several men were seen taking flowers to keep on them as the coffin was placed into the hearse
As the ceremony drew to a close, guests were shown a slideshow of Dr Gordon’s life – from his time as a young country boy, riding horse and playing with his siblings, to his university graduation, attending events with friends, and spending time with his girlfriend.
Mourners then formed a guard of honour as Dr Gordon’s coffin was carried out of the hall, ‘Every Step I Take’ by The Hassles playing in the background.
Dr Gordon, 33, was asleep in his Doncaster home, in Melbourne’s north-east, during the early morning hours of January 13 when two teen boys, both 16, allegedly broke in and stole various items, including laptops and shoes.
Dr Gordon chased them out of the house and pursued them to a nearby street, where he was allegedly stabbed during a confrontation.
Dr Gordon studied medicine at university, graduating with honours.
After completing his degree, he worked at various medical facilities across Melbourne, but at the time of his death was employed as a GP at a Box Hill clinic.
Last year, he opened his Richmond-based cosmetic clinic Redefine Aesthetics, which specialises in skin health, wellness and anti-ageing.
He was working six days a week between his business and his GP commitments.
Last Thursday, police arrested the two teenage boys, from Dandenong and Travancore, and charged them with several offences, including murder, aggravated burglary and theft.
The teenagers faced court later that day, showing little emotion as they sat in the dock accompanied by three police officers.
The magistrate granted 12 weeks for a brief of evidence to be prepared as detectives are still working to complete CCTV and mobile phone analysis.
The boys were remanded in custody and are next due in court on February 8.
Mourners poured out of the hall at the end of the ceremony to make their way to the wake