By CASEY NEILL
Keysborough man Paul ‘Pod’ O’Donnell was a mentor and inspiration.
Family and friends have paid tribute to the 48-year-old father of three who died outside his factory in Olive Grove, Keysborough, on Saturday 18 June after being stabbed.
Mr O’Donnell’s friend of five years, James, told the Journal that he was a wonderful man.
“He was a mentor. Since Dad died, he’d always be giving me advice,” he said.
“And he was a very intelligent person. He always knew what he was talking about.
“He was an inspiration to everyone.”
James, who didn’t want his surname published, said he still couldn’t believe his mate was gone.
“It’s always the best people that are taken away so soon,” he said.
“It’s not like he got sick and we had time to deal with it.
“One day he was here and then next he’s gone.
“It’s like a car accident but worse.”
James last saw him on Sunday 12 June.
“He was happy. Pod was always happy,” he said.
His wife woke him on Sunday morning after spotting Mr O’Donnell’s mechanic workshop on the news.
“I’d tried to call him the night before, about 9pm, and he didn’t answer,” James said.
“I left a message and he never called me back.
“I made a few phone calls and found out what happened.
“I had to sit down quietly by myself for 10 minutes and hold back my tears.
“It was just so surreal and I couldn’t believe it had happened.”
James said music and BMW cars were among Mr O’Donnell’s passions.
“He’d just bought a BMW race car. He did this because he wanted his mates to have something to do, not because he wanted to make any money,” he said.
“He was a great friend to me. He was always here for me and my family.
“I told him I was having trouble paying my rego a couple of months ago.
“I didn’t have to ask, he just handed me a couple of hundred dollars.
“He always helped people.
“I loved him, that’s for sure.”
James said Mr O’Donnell was from a big family and “was loved by all of them”.
In a death notice they thanked “all who have shown support and offered condolences”.
Mr O’Donnell’s funeral will be held in the Chapel of Reflection at Springvale Botanical Cemetery at 11.45am on Wednesday 29 June and he’ll be buried with his brother Michael.
Karl Lamblin, 32, of no fixed address was remanded until 13 October when he appeared at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday 24 June charged with murder.
