Town pays tribute to loving family man

Paul Corcoran, 40, was killed last week when the crop duster he was flying crashed on the Tottenham Road near Honeybugle.

More than 250 people were estimated to be in attendance at Mr Corcoran’s funeral after the accident last Monday.

The funeral has been described as the biggest the town has seen in many years, possibly since the death of well-known practitioner Dr McLean, who worked in the town throughout the 1960s, 70s and 80s.

Mr Corcoran was described

as a guy that “just got in and

did the jobs that needed to be done” by local publican Shane Dolton.

“Corco was a great bloke and what happened was just so tragic,” Mr Dolton said.

“If something needed to be done to help the town he got in and did it without expecting any fanfare for it.

“He was a hard worker who loved his family and friends and everyone has had to band together to support each other.”

Mr Corcoran leaves behind his wife Mel as well as two children under the age of six.

Mr Dolton believes the town will rally to help his young family cope with the tragic loss of their father and husband.

“It’s what we do in small towns. If someone’s doing it tough we help them,” he said.

“We’re all struggling with it but obviously his family more so we will all pitch in to make sure they are okay.”

Mr Corcoran’s death continues a tragic few weeks for the small township, which lost 42-year-old Darren Lawson and 45-year-old Lyle Phillips in the lead-up to Christmas.

Mr Lawson lost a long battle with cancer while Mr Phillips

suffered a heart attack just days before the holiday period began.

“It’s been a sad month for everybody around here, just terrible,” Mr Dolton said.

“To lose three blokes, all in their 40s, has really rocked us and when something like that happens it affects the whole town because we all know each other and are good friends.”

ben.walker@ruralpress.com