A man has been charged over the death of a regular patron outside a Victorian pub last week.
It was reported that an “altercation” took place out front of the Farmers Arms Hotel, in Creswick, 15 kilometres north of Ballarat, around 2am on the morning of Sunday, 22 November.
Police will allege 39-year-old local man David Blake died at the scene. His remains were removed later in the day.
Around 6:30am another local man, aged 41 years, handed himself in to police, where he was charged by detectives with manslaughter.
Blake was a self-employed plasterer and former player for the Creswick Football Club. He was a regular sight at the Farmers for years, and “regarded by everyone as part of the family” according to a social media post by the owners.
The Hotel had closed, and staff present did all they could to assist. Some are currently undertaking grief counselling.
The proprietors thanked the community for the flood of messages of support, reopening the Hotel on Thursday.
“We feel blessed in this terrible time, to be around such a great community.”
The accused remains in custody, due to appear in Ballarat Magistrates Court this week.
