Heartbreak!

By Glen Atwell
PEARCEDALE resident Scott Walton had ‘a thousand mates’, a thriving football career and had just started his own bricklaying business when his heart suddenly stopped beating last Wednesday afternoon.
Scott had arrived home from work, strapped on his runners and headed out for his regular jog.
But the 20-year-old never returned home.
Scott collapsed while running along Pearcedale Road and, despite the best efforts of passers-by and paramedics, died at the scene.
He was due to celebrate his 21st birthday later this month.
Scott’s mother Wendy described her son as ‘amazing’.
“Scott loved Pearcedale and the Pearcedale Football Club,” she said.
“The footy club was his second home, and the reason he played football was because he loved his mates.
“He died on Pearcedale Road in Pearcedale. I think that reflected how much he loved this place.”
The cause of Scott’s sudden heart failure remains a mystery, but the impact of his loss has hit the community hard.
Football club president Steve Green said the entire town was gutted.
“The town is in shock,” he said.
“Scott had a thousand mates, was Pearcedale through and through and his passing is an absolute tragedy.”
The 100-game, rugged on-baller had played senior football with the Pearcedale Panthers since he was 16.
“It felt like Scott had been around forever, and then in an instant, he was taken away,” Mr Green said.
“Our senior coach Peter Bastinac thought very highly of his ability and Scott had an exciting career ahead.”
The football club threw open its clubroom doors after hearing of Scott’s death, allowing players, friends and family a private space to mourn.
Wendy said the community had offered endless support to her family.
“People have offered to fill our fridge with food and we’ve even had people asking to walk our dog,” she said.
“It’s so reassuring and comforting to receive that sort of support.
“My husband Andy and I decided that we would never ever leave Pearcedale, it’s a wonderful town.”
“Scott once said that the only reason he ever travelled outside of Pearcedale was for work, and away games. He really loved this place.”
In the months before his death, Scott had started his own bricklaying business in partnership with a close friend, and had plenty of work according to Wendy.
“It was really starting to go well, 2008 would have been a big year for Scott,” she said.
Footballers will don their playing jumpers and form a guard of honour at Scott’s funeral, which was to be held at 10am today (Thursday) at Tobin Brothers Spirit of Life Chapel in Frankston.
In lieu of flowers, the Walton family requested any donations be made to the National Heart Foundation.
Scott’s death came as another blow for the football club, which lost life-member Chris Macdermid, who died after a heart attack, in October last year.