Paediatric registrar at Dubbo Base Hospital Dr Nagaruban Arumugam treated a premature baby on a wintry June morning, only to be killed in a car crash later that day.

Sportsman Danny Bower died after a skydiving accident, and former Dubbo mayor Tom Slattery from cancer, within the same devastating 24 hours in May.

Death took the brave, the inspirational, the adventurous, the pure of heart and many more of Dubbo and district’s finest in 2009.

Barely a month passed without the Daily Liberal recording the loss of someone special in the eyes of their family, and often the wider community.

Tragic circumstances claimed many of the lives including 46-year-old Mrs Baker, honoured by her husband with the words “ her love was gentle and warm”.

Others who were taken unexpectedly and too early included Sarah Waugh, the 18-year-old from Newcastle who fell to her death from a horse at the Dubbo Campus Rural Skills and Environment Centre in March.

More than 1000 people turned out for Mr Bower’s funeral in St Brigid’s Catholic Church after the 45-year-old died doing what he loved.

A life member of the Dubbo Rugby Cricket Club, he was remembered as a loving family man but also a mentor.

“His thing was to help people strive to be the best they could be,” wife Cassie said.

Dr Arumugam had been lauded for saving the lives of children in the last week of his life.

He would be described as a man with a “true calling” and his death a “phenomenal waste”.

In early July, a soldier devoted to family and country was accorded a full military funeral in Dubbo.

A former resident of the city, the Australian Army’s Lance Corporal Stephen Carl Johanson died after his car and a truck collided on the Mitchell Highway near Wongarbon.

In September, on the fifth anniversary of the death of former Dubbo MP Tony McGrane, his mate and the “Bradman of local government” from Peak Hill was fatally injured in a two-car collision on the Orange Road near Parkes.

Robert Wilson, 67, a pall bearer at Mr McGrane’s funeral, had just stepped down from the position of Parkes mayor to spend time with family.

The accident also claimed the life of Orange man Kevin Marshall, whose adored grandson Brendan Saul was knocked off his bike and killed by a hit-and-run driver in Dubbo during the summer of 2004.

Brendan’s father, Kevin Saul, said Mr Marshall had been “one of the rocks” in the family’s battle for justice.

Less than six weeks later, Western NSW was again reeling at the loss of Andrew and Anita Salter whose infant son Henry survived the car crash that took the lives of his parents.

The accident happened as the family travelled home to Condobolin after seeking medical attention for the child in Dubbo.

“There will be a cloud over our district for quite a while,” Condobolin mayor Des Manwaring said.

The emotional skies were also grey when a host of others succumbed to illness during the year.

A guard of honour by Dubbo saleyards staff, farmers and stock and station agents paid tribute to Sandra Wilson-Tink after she lost her battle with cancer in March.

Mrs Wilson-Tink, 58, was renowned for her contribution to the likes of the show society and the local sheep industry.

“You can’t replace volunteers like Sandra who give up hundreds of hours of their time,” friend Brian Schloeffel said.

On March 30 life-long district farmer Ronald MacInnes left behind the legacy of “a good neighbour and friend to all”.

Cancer survivor Don Howe died of a heart attack in April while visiting family in Singleton.

His experience of the disease led the 66-year-old to become a spokesman for those less able to make themselves heard.

The following month Squadron Leader (Retired) Tom Slattery, who had rolled up his sleeves for Dubbo from the moment he arrived in the city in1974, was given a memorable send-off.

Awarded the Order of Australia and title of Emeritus Mayor, he served on an array of organisations focused on health, education, recreation, rescue and charitable works.

Dubbo was forced to surrender at least one other champion in May in former prisoner-of-war Bob Flint who made his mark through organisations such as Dubbo City Choristers and Dubbo Field Naturalists.

On her death in September, former teacher Eleanor Mary Kavanagh, 96, was acknowledged as a founding member of Trinity Players, a forerunner to the Dubbo Theatre Company, and the Dubbo Field Naturalists.

November proved a traumatic month for the family and friends of Doug Sadler, Gary Hands and Glenis McGrath.

Mr Sadler, whose illustrious career began with his posting as a teacher to his alma mater Dubbo High School, was called “a great man” by his son Tony.

Mr Hands, confined to a wheelchair after a horrific car crash in 1974, was honoured for helping others including accident victims.

“Gary didn’t let disability interfere with his life,” his wife Lois said.

Mrs McGrath, who astounded medical experts in 2005 when her failing eyesight was restored by a touch-and-go liver transplant, was reported by her family to have “ lived life to the full” despite 24 years of serious illness.

The artist helped launch the successful and award-winning Dubbo business, Big On Style.

Grief settled on the city again in mid-December when 74-year-old Aboriginal elder Agnes ‘Bub’ Towney died in her sleep.

Prominent Aboriginal elder Levenia Howey died on Saturday.

Dubbo City Council flags flew at half-mast to signify her contribution to the city, in particular to sporting groups and children.

In 2009 the Daily Liberal also helped farewell the famous, including Australian aviation pioneer Nancy Bird Walton, 93, and entertainment legend Michael Jackson.

And it sympathised with neighbouring Narromine as tragedy befell the town and its surrounding district, again and again.

Mid-March this newspaper counted seven deaths in less than three months, five on the roads, one in a workplace and one in a plane crash.

o Levenia Howey’s life: Page 7