'Hero' dad kills himself after struggling to cope with Melbourne's lockdown: Devastated wife sends a powerful message to 'Dictator' Dan Andrews - only to be dealt another cruel blow
David McCreadie took his own life after struggling to cope with Melbourne's draconian lockdown
A loving dad-of-four killed himself after struggling to cope with Melbourne's draconian lockdown, his family have revealed.
David McCreadie had been struggling with mental health since June last year, but his condition began to improve with regular trips to the country, long walks and excursions to the beach.
However, when the coronavirus pandemic hit, it put an end to the 56-year-old's outdoor therapy and his demons quickly returned.
His wife Felicity slammed Premier Daniel Andrews for forcing Melburnians to live with such harsh restrictions.
'It contributed to his mental health, It contributed to his stress and there was no relief,' she told Daily Mail Australia.
To make matters even more painful for the heartbroken family, ongoing border closures mean David's second-oldest son Jaxom, 24, who grew up in Western Australia, is not able to attend his dad's funeral.
David's wife Felicity (pictured right) works as an artist while he ran a highly successful business as a master builder for over 13 years (David is pictured left)
The couple got married in 2007 and lived together in Brighton East in Melbourne's south
David and Felicity got married in 2007 and lived together in Brighton East in Melbourne's south.
Felicity has decided to tell her heart-wrenching story to shine a light on the rising number of people who are suffering from mental health issues which have been compounded during the pandemic.
David had been struggling with mental health since June last year, but his condition began to improve with regular trips to the country, long walks and excursions to the beach
'I have to stand up and be counted for my husband's name and I am not letting this go,' she said.
'Daniel Andrews needs to see (how harmful lockdown is). I have a 12-year-old boy whose life has changed forever.
'I would like to tell them my story. I would like to look them in the eye.'
Felicity works as an artist and David ran a highly successful business as a master builder for over 13 years.
But in 2019 he ran into financial problems when two of his clients failed to pay up.
It was the first time in his life he had ever been in debt and it was also the first time he needed psychiatric help.
'On June 3 last year David attempted suicide because he had never owed anyone money before,' Felicity said.
'But we were able to take him away for weekends to French Island or rural properties in the Gippsland and he did really well.
David is pictured with Oscar (second from left), Felicity and Edward (second from right) on a family trip to Scotland
'He recovered to an extent. A big part of his recovery process was walking, exercise and going to spend time in the country, staying on friends farms and heading to the beach.
'He was doing okay. We let go of the money that was lost and we moved on but when lockdown started that was it… my husband changed.'
David was highly regarded in the local Bayside community, even considered a hero to many for his 'extraordinary generosity' and charity work.
During the summer bushfire crisis, David and Felicity donated hundreds of meals and essential supplies to rural communities that had been left in ruin.
'When the bushfires hit. He donated about $100,000 worth of stuff even though we had f**k all money,' Felicity said.
'He still did it because he said there were people up there that are worse off than us with no food, electricity or clothing.'
David made four trips to communities in the Snowy Mountains in the Upper Murray to offer his expertise as a builder for free.
David made four trips to communities in the Snowy Mountains in the Upper Murray to offer his expertise as a builder for free
David (pictured right with a truck full of donated goods) was highly regarded in the local Bayside community, even considered a hero to many for his 'extraordinary generosity' and charity work
David and Felicity donated hundreds of meals and essential supplies to rural communities that had been left in ruin
With government support services stretched to the limit, he helped connect power to homes, build fencing and sourced vital goods like air conditioners, ovens and fridges.
A heartfelt message is left by David's loving sons
It wasn't the first time he volunteered his time to help others.
'When David found out our friend Caroline Boileu, who cares for her husband who has a degenerative brain disease, had been ripped off by other tradespeople, David did about $30,000 worth of work on their house for free,' Felicity said.
But while David was quick to help others, his own struggles continued.
'The real estate company that we rent from has not offered any relief. He was two days late with rent and he was hounded,' Felicity said.
'There was no money. He could only have five contractors on site at a time which meant jobs went very slowly.
'Coronavirus support for builders was pathetic.'
Up until his death on October 16, Felicity says he received constant calls and legal threats from creditors.
With Jaxom and David's ex-wife both interstate and unable to attend the funeral, Felicity said she's going to wait until the pandemic is resolved before saying her last goodbye.
'I have decided to cremate his body on October 27, which is our wedding anniversary and I'm going to wait until COVID is over to give him the farewell he deserves,' she said.
A fundraiser that was set up on behalf of the family to help them through this difficult time has all ready raised over $19,000.
David (pictured left) enjoys a large gathering with his friends and family
Melburnians were thrust back into lockdown on July 8 after a second wave of coronavirus cases linked to Victoria’s botched hotel quarantine program sprang up.
Despite a lengthy inquiry into the fiasco and testimony from 12 ministers and senior department figures, including the Premier, all claimed they were not responsible for the decision to hire under-prepared private security staff in favour of police or military personnel.
There have been a total of 20,330 COVID-19 cases including 817 deaths in Victoria.
On August 4, Victoria reached a record number of daily new infections with 725 cases and 13 deaths.
Melburnians were thrust back into lockdown by Dan Andrews on July 8
To stem the rising tide of the outbreak, Andrew's government clamped down hard and moved to Stage Four restrictions in the Metro area and Stage Three in rural communities.
The harsh measures meant everyone had to wear a mask at all times in public and could only leave their home for work, essential shopping and giving or providing care.
Exercise was permitted for just one hour per day.
A curfew was also put in place from 8pm to 5am and residents were only permitted to travel within a 5km radius of their home - with road blocks set up to enforce the restrictions.
Any caught in breach of the rules was hit with a fine of $1652 which was later increased to $4957.
According to Fines Victoria at least 19,324 breach notices were handed out until August 24, totaling well over $27million.
Among them was pregnant woman Zoe Lee Buhler, 28, who was handcuffed wearing pyjamas her lounge room in front of her children in Ballarat, northwest of Melbourne in early September.
The bizarre case shocked the nation when she was charged with incitement after creating a Facebook protest event against Daniel Andrew's draconian lockdown in Victoria.
Zoe Buhler, 28, was handcuffed in her lounge room in front of her children on Wednesday afternoon and charged with incitement
Now there are currently just 100 active cases in Victoria with just one new infection on Friday.
The low figures came as around 200 to 300 demonstrators turned out for the 'Freedom Day' rally which began at the Shrine of Remembrance to protest against the lockdown.
They chanted 'freedom' and called for Premier Daniel Andrews to be sacked.
A total of sixteen people were arrested and 61 protesters were fined as the scenes turned ugly.
Protesters and police face off at an an anti-lockdown protest in Melbourne on Friday. Police have used pepper spray amid scuffles with demonstrators, which turned violent at several points
A police horse was attacked with a pole and punches were thrown at officers who retaliated with pepper spray during the wild anti-lockdown protest.
Three police officers were injured during the skirmishes, with one taken to hospital as a precaution.
If you or someone you know is in need of mental health support, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 1 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636
A young girl feeds a police horse an apple amid the chaos of the protest as her mother take a photo. One horse was reportedly hit by a pole during the protest
Many scuffles between police and anti-lockdown protesters broke out. Here an officer and a man in a black balaclava have a physical confrontation
MELBOURNE'S ROADMAP OUT OF COVID-19 LOCKDOWN - WHAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DO AND WHEN:
Step one: Came into effect on September 14
Step two: Came into effect on September 28
Step three: When there is a daily statewide average of five new cases over the past 14 days. The original aim was for October 26, brought forward to October 19 after the 14-day average of new cases fell below initial expectations, but again put on hold after new case numbers plateaued.
This has now been revamped to be a series of 'mini-steps' and more gradual easings as the numbers proved difficult to shift.
Step four: The move to step four will come when there have been no new COVID-19 cases in the past 14 days. The aim is for this to come into place on November 23
COVID Normal: After 28 days of no new COVID-19 cases, things will return to normal.
FREEDOMS YOU GET AT EACH STEP OF EASING
Step one - came into effect September 14
- Curfew has been eased to 9pm-5am
- People can still only leave home for the four reasons (shopping, exercise, work and care or medical attention)
- Public gatherings increased to two people, or a household, for a maximum of two hours
- Singles can have one nominated person to their home as part of the 'singles social bubble'
- Childcare and early educators to remain closed
- Schools will continue to learn remotely unless they have exemptions
- Adult education to continue to be done remotely, unless they have exemption
- Only go to work if you are in a permitted industry
- Cafes and restaurants will continue with take away only
- Retail businesses will remain open for essential shopping, with others only operating with click and collect
- Only one person per household can do the essential shopping
Step two - came into effect September 28
- Melbourne's curfew lifted
- Public gatherings increase again to five people from a maximum of two households
- Childcare and early educators can re-open
- Schools to continue with remote learning, but Prep to Grade Two and Year 11 and Year 12 students will gradually return to class in Term 4
- There will be an increase to permitted workplaces
Step three - originally expected October 26, brought forward to October 19
- There are no restrictions on leaving home
- Public gatherings increase to 10 people together outdoors
- A 'household bubble' will be introduced, so five people from one house can visit another
- Remote learning to continue, but Grades 3 to Year 11 can gradually return to class
- Adult education to continue to be done remotely, but hands on classes will see a phased return to onsite
- Work from home is encouraged
- Up to 10 people can eat together at restaurants and cafes, with the majority of tables outdoor
- Retail shops to reopen, with hairdresses operating under safety measures but beauty stores to remain closed
- Real estate agents can conduct private inspections by appointment
- The one person per household limit on shopping is to be revoked
Step four - expected in November, dependent on new case numbers:
- Public gatherings to increase to 50 people outdoors
- Up to 20 visitors can attend a home at any one time
- All adult education will return to onsite with safety measures in place
- Groups limited to 20 indoors and a maximum of 50 patrons per venue
- All retail stores to reopen, while real estate agents can operate with safety measures and by keeping a record of attendants
Step five - COVID normal:
- Public gatherings have no restriction
- There will also be no restriction on visitors to homes
- Phased return to onsite work for work from home workers
- Schools to reopen as normal
- Restrictions on hospitality removed, but venues to continue keeping records