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Friends, family, and community members have gathered to bid farewell to beloved teenager Bianca Jones, who tragically died after drinking suspected methanol-laced spirits while on holiday in Laos.
The 19-year-old, along with her best friend Holly Bowles, died shortly after being taken to separate hospitals in Thailand, having consumed the tainted alcohol at a bar in the town of Vang Vieng in November.
The funeral service for Jones was held at Mentone Girl's Grammar, in Mentone, the same school Jones had graduated from last year.
METHANOL EXPLAINED: The deadly substance you can't see or taste
Just before the funeral service, Principal Natalie Charles read a statement on behalf of the family.
"We want to thank the people of Australia and the wider community for their outpouring of love, support and compassion during this extremely difficult time," Charles said.
"Your kindness has been a source of strength and comfort for our family. Today is a profoundly significant day as we come together to honour Binaca's life and say our final goodbyes.
"The immense love shown by so many is a testament to the profound impact she had reflected in the scale of today's farewell.
"We remain committed to ensuring that the awareness of Binaca, Holly and others, internationally impacted by this tragic story continue.
"Their legacies are far too important to be forgotten and our children's lives too important not to protect.
"We hope their stories drive change and inspire efforts to save lives. We kindly ask that our family be given the space to grieve on this deeply emotional day."
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Attendees were asked to wear springtime colours, as requested by the Jones family.
The girls had free shots at the hostel before going out and drinking at other bars on the night before they were found ill but the hostel owner insisted the drinks did not come from his bar.
US man James Louis Hutson, 57, British lawyer Simone White, 28, and Danes Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20, and Frela Vennervald Sorensen, 21, have been named as the four other tourists who died.
A third Australian was later confirmed to have fallen ill but was last known to be recovering in hospital in a stable condition.
The deaths sparked outrage, well wishes and warnings from Canberra to Washington, including messages from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Foreign Minister Penny Wong, various consulates and even Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder.
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9News understands at least 11 staff from Nana Backpacker Hostel in Vang Vieng have now been taken into custody as part of investigations into potentially tainted drinks.
It's believed the source of the deadly outbreak is a rundown factory outside Vientiane that was making Tiger Vodka and Tiger Whisky.
The factory has been ordered to close and the owner has been arrested.
Laos has banned the sale and consumption of Tiger Vodka and Tiger Whisky after the deaths of the tourists.
SmartTraveller has warned Australians in Laos to avoid consuming the products due to "serious safety concerns".
Methanol is a clear liquid chemical used in thousands of everyday products, including plastics, paints, cosmetics, and fuels.
It's often deliberately and illegally added to alcoholic beverages as a cheaper alternative to ethanol, according to the Methanol Institute.
Drinking less than 25 ml of methanol can be fatal.
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