Tributes flow for “larger than life” man killed in tragic crash

By Brendan Rees

A 28-year-old man who tragically lost his life in a motorcycle crash in Docklands is being remembered as a kind and genuine person with an “infectious smile”.

Brendan Holden was riding along Lorimer St with his passenger and girlfriend Luisa Landolfo when his motorcycle collided with a car near the corner of Hartley St about 9pm on November 19.

Paramedics tried to revive Mr Holden but he died at the scene while Ms Landolfo was taken to hospital with critical injuries.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said the exact circumstances surrounding the collision were yet to be determined.

The driver and passenger of the car were not injured in the incident and stopped at the scene and were currently assisting police with their inquiries, a police spokeswoman said.

Tributes have flowed for Mr Holden with many paying their respects on social media, saying he will “stay in our hearts forever”.

“I’m truly lost for words after just hearing about the horrible news. You will be extremely missed by many people,” one wrote.

Close friend Chris Jewson, who would often ride with Mr Holden in road racing events, said he was an outgoing person who “was loved by everyone” including his colleagues at Metro Trains where he worked as a safety coordinator.

“I considered him like a brother, he had this infectious smile that would light up a whole room,” he said. “The kid was larger than life.”

“He was the type of guy that would give you the shirt off his own back.”

 “I couldn’t imagine anyone who would actually say anything bad about him.”

Friend Cameron White, who photographed Mr Holden at race meetings, said he “was as kind and as genuine a person as you would ever hope to meet”. 

He said his four-year-old son “absolutely idolised” Mr Holden who “made the absolute effort every time he saw the little fella to make him feel special”.

“It’s definitely a loss, a very gifted person,” he said, adding Mr Holden had a passion for flying light aircraft.

“This guy was the salt of the earth, it’s very hard to describe someone who has no faults.”

Preston Motorcycle Club shared a tribute online, saying Mr Holden was a “bright and motivated young man who wore a huge grin”.

“He was known for being willing to help anyone at any time. He loved his bike riding/racing and was very competitive, always coupled with a bit of cheeky banter in the pits,” the club said.  

Mourners attended the scene of the crash in the days after the tragedy, leaving flowers, soft toys, and photos of a smiling Mr Holden pinned to a fence at a makeshift roadside shrine.  

A GoFundMe page set up to help Mr Holden’s family with funeral costs and medical expenses for Ms Landolfo has raised more than $25,000 •