Four Vic couples among Ukraine plane dead (AAP)

View Comments EPA Nine Victorians have been killed in the Malaysia Airlines plane crash, Premier Denis Napthine says.

A respected Melbourne teacher, small-business owners, a Victorian couple returning from a European holiday and an overseas couple living in Melbourne are among the 298 victims of the Malaysia Airlines Ukraine disaster.

Toorak College teacher Francesca "Frankie" Davison, 54, and her husband, Liam, were among nine Victorians out of 28 Australians aboard MH17 when it was downed in disputed territory in eastern Ukraine.

"We are devastated by the news of this tragedy," Toorak College principal Helen Carmody said.

"Frankie was a dear friend - warm, generous and kind. She gave so much to Toorak College both personally and professionally."

The Davisons had a son and daughter, Ms Carmody said.

Gerry and Mary Menke, who ran an abalone pearl company in Mallacoota, and Sunbury and real estate agent Albert Rizk and his wife, Maree, were also on the doomed flight.

Jeanette Seignior of Business and Tourism East Gippsland said the Menkes' loss would be a huge blow to the community.

"They are a beautiful couple, a lovely family," Ms Seignior told AAP.

The Rizks, who had two children, had lived in Sunbury for more than 20 years, where Mr Rizk was a director of the local Raine and Horne real estate branch.

Hume city councillor Jack Ogilvie said the couple was on the doomed flight.

"Last night I was talking to his son, James, and I said, 'When are Albert and Maree coming back?'" he told AAP on Friday.

"He said they are on the flight and they'll be home tomorrow ... but they just didn't make it."

The couple were actively involved in the Sunbury Football Club.

"Albert and Maree both loved the club ... Maree worked in the canteen on game day," Mr Ogilvie said.

"Albert has been on our committee for three years. His son James is one of our A-grade footballers."

Malaysian Elaine Teoh and Dutch national Emiel Mahler, both 27, lived in Melbourne and were thought to be travelling to a wedding.

Ms Teoh's employer, IG Australia, issued a statement saying she and Mr Mahler - who used to work at the company - were "beloved members of our close IG community and were valued members of our team".

Mr Mahler left IG Australia to join Vanguard Australia, which said staff were "extremely sad".

The identity of the ninth Victorian victim is yet to be confirmed.

Victorian Premier Denis Napthine has pledged his government's support for loved ones.

He said the dead also included a substantial number of delegates and experts travelling to Melbourne for the 20th International AIDS Conference, to begin this weekend.

Flags on government buildings across Victoria will fly at half-mast from Friday until the conference ends.

The Department of Human Services has arranged for counsellors to tend to friends and loved ones of the victims including those at Melbourne Airport, the Malaysia Airlines Melbourne office and the AIDS conference.

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