It’s relief all round!

By Sarah Schwager and Rebecca Fraser
COLLEAGUES of hurricane survivor Ashley McDonald were relieved to hear he was released from prison last week.
Mr McDonald’s workmates at ShearForm Constuction in Dandenong South, where Mr McDonald has worked for the past five years, said they could not believe he had run into so much bad luck on the trip he spent all year saving for.
The 30yearold Narre Warren man was missing for almost two weeks after flying to America to visit his Tennesseebased sister.
Ashley said his family feared he had been killed when Hurricane Katrina struck on 29 August.
But, in fact, Mr McDonald was struggling to survive in prison as he shared cells and exercise yards with death row inmates convicted of murder and rape.
Mr McDonald was detained in Bourbon Street, New Orleans, shortly after his arrival for being drunk and disorderly but all charges have since been dropped.
Workmate Shane Dounard said Mr McDonald was a quiet man who spent all year saving to go to America.
A big KISS fan, his workmates said the only thing he would have ever spent his money on was if KISS came to town.
“He fought for those five weeks off work and then blew two in the jug,” Mr Dounard said.
He said he used to drink a fair bit and bourbon was his favourite.
But he said Mr McDonald had since given up and was now on a fitness regime, only bingeing very occasionally.
“He’s like a big kid.”
Mr Dounard said Mr McDonald was called “Yogi” around the workplace because of his resemblance to the cartoon character Yogi Bear.
But Mr Dounard said since his fitness regime, which includes going to the gym twice a day and swimming 1500 metres every morning, his appearance had changed somewhat.
Workmate Matthew Coustley, who also works with Mr McDonald as a brake press operator, said he was always excited about going to America.
“He’s got the States written on the inside of his tool box and he’s gradually ticking them off,” Mr Coustley said.
He said Mr McDonald’s whole life had changed over the last few years.
“He was almost an alcoholic, now he only drinks on holidays,” he said.
“He probably got there and kicked back. He was so excited.
“He starts bounding around before going.”
Mr Coustley said he could not believe Mr McDonald was ever involved in a brawl.
“He wouldn’t have started it, no way,” Mr Coustley said.
“He’s a nice, quiet bloke. He keeps to himself.”
Mr Dounard said he could not believe they had landed the plane when the hurricane was coming.
He said Mr McDonald knew a couple of days in advance that the storm was coming and was a bit worried.
Workmate Phil Harrison said Mr McDonald had been planning to swim in the Gulf of Mexico.
“I was watching on the news when the hurricane hit. I said to my missus I swear he said he was going to swim in the Gulf of Mexico,” Mr Harrison said.
Mr McDonald’s workmates said they were just glad he was all right.
“He’s alive. That’s the main thing,” Mr Coustley said.