Deanne Mathews, a 54-year-old practitioner of alternative therapies, hosted a healing retreat in Clunes, near Ballarat, where participants paid $500 to consume magic mushroom tea, a hallucinogenic substance.

During the retreat on April 13, 2024, Rachael Dixon, a 53-year-old participant, tragically passed away after consuming the tea, although the cause of her death remains undetermined.

Despite the serious nature of the incident, police found no evidence linking Mathews to Dixon's death, leading to her charge being solely for trafficking a drug of dependence.

On March 12, 2025, Mathews pleaded guilty to drug trafficking in Bacchus Marsh Magistrates’ Court and was fined $3,000, avoiding a criminal conviction.

Magistrate Julia Barling decided against recording a conviction, citing Mathews' cooperation and early guilty plea, while emphasizing the community's intolerance for illegal substance use.

Mathews' lawyer, Jon Ross, highlighted her quick response to the emergency by calling for help and administering CPR to Dixon, underscoring her distress over the incident.

Following Dixon's death, Mathews ceased offering mushroom tea ceremonies, which had been a minor part of her therapeutic practice.

After the event, two other participants were hospitalized, but no charges have been laid regarding Dixon’s death, which remains unexplained after an autopsy.

The court heard that participants consumed mushroom tea consensually, with each choosing their amount, up to 6 grams, and were aware of its effects.

Prosecutor Kerrie Moroney stated that all participants were informed about what they were consuming and were not coerced into trying the tea.

While the court acknowledged that Mathews benefited financially from the retreat, it concluded that this did not make her excessively wealthy.

The impact of media coverage on Mathews was noted as intrusive and prolonged, affecting her well-being, as she left the courthouse without making comments to the press.