There's a photograph of baby Harry Stortz, just months old, with his little fist curled in the Tour de France victory salute.
It is one of the few things triathlete Jason Stortz had a chance to teach his 15-month-old son before his life was tragically cut short.
Mr Stortz, 39, died on Saturday after he was hit by a motorist while cycling at Yallah in preparation for the Port Macquarie Half Ironman competition.
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Yesterday, his mother, Vicki Mielke of Barrack Heights, spoke of the grief at losing their beloved son and the knowledge he would not see his only child grow to adulthood.
"I just can't believe little Harry won't know his father," she said.
"I've always pictured ahead to Harry in the garden with his father; Harry on a bike with his father."
Born in September 1970, Jason Stortz was the second child of Ken Stortz and Mrs Mielke, and was educated at Barrack Heights Public School and Warilla High School.
Mrs Mielke said that, as a child, her son took great delight in stirring his four sisters, a penchant that carried over into adulthood.
"He had a Venus flytrap and he'd make (younger sister) Chantel watch as he fed this plant flies," she said.
At age 17 he joined the Australian Army, where he spent the next nine years as a mechanic-welder.
After his discharge, he continued to maintain his physical fitness, swimming and cycling many kilometres every day.
"Then his friend Boyd got him into (triathlons). Once he went, that was it. He was hooked.
"He was very hard on himself. He asked for absolute perfection in everything.
"When he achieved something, it was never enough.
"He was worried his body would let him down because he was getting up to 40. He worried his body would be the thing that stopped him from doing what he loved."
His family yesterday revealed that Mr Stortz had been accepted to the police force.
Wife Kylie was his partner in both life and fitness. They were married 11 years before settling down to start a family.
Mrs Mielke, a grandmother of five, said her son and daughter-in-law were determined to own their home and car before they brought a child into the world.
"They've absolutely pulled together from day one," she said.
"They built the house in Kiama about five years ago and they already owned it. I was so proud of them."
Baby Harry's birth in June 2008 was a blessed gift that brought a new, at times chaotic, dimension to Mr Stortz's life.
"He joked that Harry should be named Lance Armstrong, just to rev Kylie up.
"As Harry grew he taught him the Tour de France victory salute.
"He'd go, 'Who's the winner Harry?' And little Harry would put his fist up - at that age! - for winning the Tour de France.
"This little baby was in training, let me tell you.
"Harry was going to the Tour de France, whether he liked it or not, and he was going to win."
Mrs Mielke, with husband Arno, was out of town the day her son died.
"I got a phone call from the police to get to a police station. My heart missed a beat.
"I said straight away, 'Tell me it's not one of my kids'. He said 'it's about your son'."
Mrs Mielke said she had been both thankful and overwhelmed by the community-wide support shown in the day's since her son's passing, from friends in the cycling community to colleagues at Kiama Municipal Council where he was employed.
"I remember the first day I saw him. He was my perfect little baby boy.
"I always told him he was wonderful. I told him he was my favourite son, my only son.
"The good thing is, I told him that. He needed to know he did good, and he did."
Mr Stortz is survived by his wife and son, parents and sisters Karyn, Joanne, Chantel and Kristy.
His funeral will be held tomorrow at Christ Church, Terralong St, Kiama, at 1pm.
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