By Eleanor Wilson
A Pakenham husband and father is being remembered as a BMX loving, proud family man, after he lost his life in a senseless attack outside a Sale pub this month.
Clint Allen was fatally stabbed in the early hours of Sunday 7 May when he was walking home after celebrating his wife’s birthday with his family at Criterion Hotel in Sale.
A 20-year-old man has been charged with murder.
In the aftermath of Mr Allen’s death, the Pakenham and Officer community has rallied around his wife Bek and daughters Stef and Makala, creating a GoFundMe page to help support the “heartbroken, shattered and truly devastated family”.
The Allen family were part of the Pakenham-Officer community for 10 years before setting off on a caravan trip around Australia in early 2022.
They had returned from that trip just four months ago, settling in the regional Victorian town of Sale, when the tragic incident occurred.
Friend Stacey Kumar remembered the father of two as an “adoring and incredible husband…proud dad and a mate and friend to so many”.
“Clint had the ability to make every person in his presence – smile, feel joy, love life and constantly laugh, especially with his Dad jokes,” Ms Kumar said.
“It was a regular occurrence when they were travelling for Bek to send me through a video or a message of Clint’s most recent Dad joke that she cringed at but knew it would make me cry with laughter.”
The 38-year-old was an “incredible and adoring husband” to wife Bek, she said.
“Not everyone in life is lucky enough to find their soul mate, but Clint and Bek found each other and even after 16 years together they still acted as if they were in their honeymoon period,” she said.
Friend Adrian Yarzabal agreed the couple “seemed like they never left the honeymoon period of their relationship”.
“They were always lovey-dovey around each other,” he said.
“Bek was always Clint’s queen. They even had matching my king and queen tattoos.”
Clint loved the outdoors, bike riding, AFL and fixing anything with an engine, Mr Yarzabal said.
When his own son reached his teenage years, Clint took him under his wing.
“He would pick Ethan up and take him on bike rides and share his bikes with him.
“Ethan had a bike of his own at this stage but it had been left outside for months and had rusted and deteriorated.
One day Clint picked this bike up and took it home with him, returning with it a couple of weeks later “looking like brand new”.
“Clint had restored this bike, re-sprayed it, changed parts around and gave Ethan his bike back literally as good as new.
“Clint did this in his own time and out of his own pocket. That’s what Clint was like, he’d go above and beyond to help a mate.”
“It didn’t matter if you had known Clint 10 years or 10 minutes..if he was in a room there would not be anyone in that room that would be left out of any conversation.”
Robin Fisher said it was “always a joy to be in [Clint’s] presence”.
“He was the most genuine, heartfelt and loving man you’d ever meet.
“[He was] always working on a car or bike in his garage, and that’s how I would always like to remember him for; his love for anything with wheels.
“Clint we will miss you, forever and always. We can’t control what happened and what happens now but we can control how we remember and honour you.”
Ms Kumar said she is “truly touched” by the generosity of donor to the GoFundMe page, which has raised almost $12,000 in the week it has been up.
“Times are tough right now for most so it’s incredible to see so many people digging deep to support others in time of need – everyone is truly truly grateful for everyone’s generous donations and support,” she said.
Funds raised will go towards funeral costs for Clint, and supporting his family in the aftermath of his death.
If you would like to contribute to the GoFundMe, head to gofundme.com/f/support-for-clint-allens-family
