Ian Wilkinson, the sole survivor of an allegedly poisoned mushroom meal last year, has spoken publicly for the first time during a sermon to his church.
The pastor's wife, Heather, sister-in-law Gail Patterson, and her husband Don died after eating suspected death cap mushrooms at a family lunch gathering in July last year.
Wilkinson was discharged from the hospital on September 22 after weeks in an induced coma, fighting for his life.
During his sermon on February 11, published in the Herald Sun newspaper on Monday morning, Wilkinson said, "the way is sometimes hard, but God is good. He is with us," encouraging his congregation to "keep on going".
The pastor, who celebrated his 70th birthday just days earlier, addressed his congregation tearfully, acknowledging that it had been "a big week" for him, marking six months since he had lost his family members.
"Yesterday was our 45th wedding anniversary," he said.
"I am grateful for all that God has given me, what God has done through me."
Wilkinson's nephew's estranged wife, 49-year-old Erin Patterson, was charged in November with the alleged murders of the three family members, in addition to five counts of attempted murder.
Three of the attempted murder charges were connected to alleged separate incidents occurring in the years leading up to the family lunch.
Patterson appeared in court on November 3 and has been remanded to reappear in May.
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