Brett Harris is being remembered as one of the "heartbeats" of the small northern community of Stanwell Park with moving tributes flowing for the "selfless, gorgeous man" who was "a staple of Stanny".
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Mr Harris, understood to be 57, was killed on Wednesday morning when an out-of-control ute crashed down into his mother's property on Lawrence Hargrave Drive, where he was sweeping the deck.
A carer for his mum Thea, Brett Harris is being remembered for his good nature and his generosity, with a tribute site growing outside his house.
Neighbour Luke Shanahan was one of the first on the scene after the crash, running across the road to try and help his friend.
"He was a true character," Mr Shanahan said. "Being a writer, I see characters everywhere. But this one was so selfless and genuine, caring and big-hearted, that the tragedy is so raw.
"Never better illustrated than school kids on their way to school he local school [on Wednesday] dropping off flowers, some crying. He would say hi every morning as they walked by. There is a growing tribute outside his place. He was one of the town's heartbeats."
"Selfless gorgeous people like Brett are the reason we moved out of the city and to this paradise."
That's the kind of love reflected in many of the comments sent in memory on Thursday.
A day earlier, as Mr Harris's life hung in the balance, Mr Shanahan told a "Stanny" community forum everyone was thinking of him.
"Brett is a selfless caring wonderful being," he said. "A unique tender soul and because of this an accident as statistically improbable as what happened this morning is made all the more tragic.
"This is the guy that drops surfboards off for my eight-year-old (in the shadow of darkness) because he saw him walking back from the surf without one. He then ran off when I went to thank him for it. He didn't want credit. He didn't even require a thank you."
For the last word on this page, a few lines Jarrod Sorensen wrote for his friend:
He was a mentor and a mate, He was a friendly handshake
The staple of Stanny
Like icing on cake
A musician and surfer
His smile stretched way further
A son and a brother
And a very proud father
The biggest of groms forever he'll be
Loving life to the fullest is his legacy
One day will come and we'll see you again
We're all gonna miss you,
We love you our friend.
Vale Harro ...
Ben Langford
Senior journalist writing on the environment. Opinion columnist, independent. We rely on your news tips so please, don't be shy to let us know what's going on.
Senior journalist writing on the environment. Opinion columnist, independent. We rely on your news tips so please, don't be shy to let us know what's going on.
