On September 26, Mr Hopkins died peacefully at the Holy Spirit Nursing Home,  aged 94. 

His daughter Margaret Leslie said affectionately that her father was “a hard act to follow”.

She said his devotion to St Vincent de Paul endeared him to many people along with his involvement in the Catholic church.

Mr Hopkins’ nature had predisposed him to being involved with and helping out those less fortunate than himself.

“In 1955 dad apparently took two weeks unpaid leave from work to assist in the running of a mobile food and clothing assistance truck for the society.”

“He also volunteered at the Dubbo jail when it was operating, helping prisoners with letter writing, supplying clothes and keeping their spirits up.” 

As a parent, Mrs Leslie said her father had been a very loving man who used to enjoy taking his family away on holidays.

“He really liked to get involved in what we did and enjoyed attending lots of family events,” she said.

Mr Hopkins was the eldest of five children born in Bega on the south coast of NSW.

He met his wife Agnes in 1941 at Dubbo, the couple married and went on to have nine children, Robert, David, Barbara, John, Hugh, Bernard (dec), Marie, Margaret and Stephen.

He leaves behind him 16 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Mr Hopkins was a Company Sergeant Major in wartime, having served in New Guinea.

Daughter Margaret Leslie said her father had led the Anzac march in Dubbo for 50 years.

“He led the parade for 49 years but on the 50th year he was in a car,” she said.

A career as a train driver for 45 years was interspersed with voluntary work with the St Vincent de Paul Society that spanned more than 65 years. A health scare saw Mr Hopkins take up running later in life at 55.

Not only did he enjoy running, he excelled in a variety of veteran masters games around the world. “He competed in running and swimming among many other events, he became an athlete,” Mrs Leslie said.

“Dad continued running until he was 85 years old and after that he just walked.”

Mrs Leslie said her father broke many records in the 1980s and 1990s.

“He won 47 medals in international competitions, along with 256 medals in state and national competitions as well as being part of a the local athletics club and the Dubbo Ducks.”

A knock from a friendly dog resulted in a fractured pelvis and sadly saw the once active octogenarian unable to take his much loved daily walks.

Mr Hopkins’ children spent time in Dubbo with him during the nine weeks he was in hospital. His daughter said he was surrounded by loving faces toward the end of his illness.

A requiem mass to celebrate Mr Hopkins’ life will be held today at St Brigid’s Catholic Church, Brisbane Street, Dubbo at 11am followed by his burial at the New Dubbo Cemetery on Dunedoo Road.