By Tyler Wright
Tributes have been flowing for 29-year-old Monbulk man Tony Muller after his death on Tuesday, with well wishers sharing what Mr Muller meant to them.
A pair of vans, a Vodka Cruiser and flowers are some of the gifts laid outside Wantirna McDonald’s at the intersection of Boronia Road and Mountain Highway, where Mr Muller’s motorbike collided with a grey Ford at around 2.30pm on Tuesday 20 September, resulting in his death.
Amy Hauser was friends with Mr Muller for years, and said he “was always making people laugh, no matter who it was”.
“I could literally call him if I needed help, and he would be like, ‘yep, sweet, I’ll come and help,’ Ms Hauser said.
“I was working really early one morning and it was winter and It was freezing, It was raining. And I was reversing out of my driveway and I got a flat tire from one of the lights in the grass.
I called [Tony] and I’m like ‘I don’t know how to change it, I’ve got to get to work,’ and within 10 minutes he was over, soaking wet, changing my tyre for me.”
Ms Hauser said Mr Muller was at her house on Monday 19 September, the night before his death; something she has found particularly difficult to process.
“He had the best bond with [his nephew]… they were actually on FaceTime [at my house],” Ms Hauser said.
“It’s really sad, but it was really nice to see that him and his nephew had such a nice connection.”
Another friend, Zac Leighton Junior, spent a lot of time with Mr Muller when they were both younger and said the world will be a “worse place” without him.
“He will be dearly missed,” Mr Leighton said.
“Such a good friend to anyone who had the privilege of knowing him.”
Ms Hauser said she has seen many posts from well-wishers with similar memories of Mr Muller’s caring and funny nature.
“I’m [going] to miss having to call him; as soon as I got on the phone to him it was like this energy… he was so bubbly and… energetic,” she said.
“It was contagious. If you were around him, you’d feel the same way.”
