Family shares grief almost one year on from mum's death at Victorian health retreat
Exclusive: The son and former-husband of a woman who died after ingesting a tea containing magic mushrooms are desperate for answers almost one year on from her death.
Rachael Dixon died on a health retreat in Clunes, north-west of Melbourne, in April last year after ingesting a drink containing hallucinogenic psilocybin, or magic mushrooms.
Her son Matt Mountain and former-husband Richard Mountain said the Melbourne myotherapist was passionate about health and had gone on several retreats run by "healer" Deanne Mathews to explore her interest in natural remedies.
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Dixon's son Matt Mountain said his mum told him she was going on the retreat, where they would perform a ceremony and drink the psilocybin tea. Nine
Dixon's family said the Melbourne myotherapist was passionate about health. Nine
"[She] just said that they'd go up there, do a ceremony, and then have the tea containing psilocybin," Matt told A Current Affair.
"She started feeling sick shortly after the drink, and then collapsed," Richard said.
An autopsy couldn't determine Dixon's cause of death - mushrooms or otherwise - but Richard says she had recently undergone a thorough health check and had no underlying conditions.
"The previous trip she'd been on, Rachael said she didn't feel great, she felt terrible and had a bad experience," Richard said.
Rachael Dixon died on a health retreat in Clunes, north-west of Melbourne, in April last year after ingesting a drink containing hallucinogenic psilocybin, or magic mushrooms. Nine
"I just said be careful."
Police charged Mathews with trafficking a drug of dependence.
The self-proclaimed healer, mentor and teacher - who charged each client $500 for the overnight retreat - was fined $3000, without conviction.
No other charges have been laid over Dixon's death, and A Current Affair does not suggest that they ought to be.
'People are at risk'
In July 2023, the Therapeutic Goods Administration reclassified psilocybin as a controlled drug, allowing authorised psychiatrists to prescribe psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression.
It made Australia the first country in the world to allow the therapeutic use of psychedelic drugs.
Dr Nigel Strauss is one of about 15 psychiatrists in Australia authorised to prescribe psilocybin.
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In July 2023, the Therapeutic Goods Administration reclassified psilocybin as a controlled drug, allowing authorised psychiatrists to prescribe psilocybin for treatment-resistant depression. Nine
"We know exactly what the dosage is, where it comes from, it's high quality, but if you're just giving people mushrooms, you're not sure what the mushroom is and you're not sure how much psilocybin is in the mushroom," he told A Current Affair.
"We've got a big uncontrolled, unregulated industry and people are at risk."
Business as usual for retreat healer
Richard says it's "an insult" that no one has been held responsible for his partner's death.
"Rachael was sold the belief that it was a natural thing and because it was a mushroom grown in nature, it wasn't harmful," Richard said.
"It was a drug that is prescribed - being given by somebody who has no qualifications to prescribe it.
Dixon had gone on several retreats run by "healer" Deanne Mathews (pictured) to explore her interest in natural remedies. Nine
"I would just like answers as to what happened."
As they navigate life without Dixon, the pair said they were frustrated minimal consequences had come about following the tragic death.
"As far as I'm aware [Mathews is] still running the retreats," Richard said
"I've had nothing to do with her and she hasn't contacted me."
Superannuation saga
Matt says he misses "everything" about his mum.
"Probably the little things that you don't realise at the time, you probably take for granted.
"Having a coffee before she'd go to work, walking the dog together."
"If you could say one last thing to your mum, what would it be?" A Current Affair asked.
"It would be I miss you," Matt replied.
"Don't go on the retreat," Richard said.
Matt says he misses "everything" about his mum. Nine
Now, the pair are focused on renovating the family home Matt was raised in.
But complications with Dixon's superannuation means it hasn't come without its own complications.
Difficulty determining whether Matt was classed as a dependent of Dixon's at the time of her death means he has yet to receive a payout of her superannuation from provider MLC.
"Rach had always spoken if anything ever happened to her, she was adamant that Matt keep the house," Richard said.
Richard says it's "an insult" that no one has been held responsible for his partner's death. Nine
"He lived at Rachael's, he wasn't paying board or rent, he was reliant on Rachael for food and shelter.
"The last thing you need when you're grieving is to be dragged through the mud trying to get the money that Matt's entitled to," Richard said.
MLC ultimately accepted Matt as Dixon's dependent and acknowledged as an industry, they need to do more for families and make the process quicker.
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