Seymour tragedy: Baker swept away in floods

A friend of the Seymour baker who drowned in flood waters this morning has told Nick McCallum that he was a well-respected and loved member of the community.

Max Loweke, 63, was on his way to work this morning when his car was swept away in floodwaters at Seymour.

Russell Chapman first met Mr Loweke through the Seymour Bowls club and described him as a jovial man who was passionate about his community and heavily involved in the local cricket and racing clubs.  

‘He’d give the shirt off his back to anyone,’ he said. ‘A great family man and loved the community’.  

The search for Mr Loweke started about 2am when SES crews spotted a car swept into a swollen creek near Delatite Road and Wimble Street.  

As other emergency services were called to the scene, an SES member attempted to rescue the man who was stuck inside his car.

He tied a rope to his waist and managed to reach the car, but not before it filled with water and became submerged.

The Seymour area had up to 49mm of rain within 30 minutes yesterday afternoon, courtesy of a slow-moving storm cell that moved across north-east Victoria.

Listen in full as Russell Chapman’s pays tribute to his mate

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