To Paul Mines, life was for living and so he just got on with it, but to those around him who saw what he endured he was truly inspirational.
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He refused to let two decades of renal dialysis stop him from being a loving family man, respected real estate agent and contributor to the Dubbo community.
The cheerful tenacity in the face of ordeals, including two failed kidney transplants before a successful transplant, and the care for people Mr Mines showed are being remembered by family, friends and former colleagues after his death on April 2, aged 68.
When Peter Allan joined his father's Dubbo real estate business, Gordon and Gordon, fresh out of school in 1972, Mr Mines showed him the ropes.
What started as industry training continued as valuable lessons for life across decades.
By the 1980s Mr Mines had become a director of Raine and Horne with Mr Allan and Mr Allan's brother Grahame, and he worked by day and went through hours of dialysis several nights a week.
His outlook left a mark on his former colleague.
"You could tell he wasn't well at times," Mr Allan said.
"He'd come to work and say 'Put a bright shirt on mate, make the day bright'.
"So he'd wear a bright shirt because he was feeling down, but he'd never complain, ever."
Mr Allan said his former colleague "had this amazing ability with people".
Mr Mines was a popular student at Dubbo High School, long-time friend Brian Abbott said.
"Unfortunately he faced adversity health-wise for the greater part of his adult life but he never let that hold him back - he raised a fine family, carved out a long and successful career in real estate and was a dedicated Apexian and Rotarian in the Dubbo community," he said.
"He was an inspiration to all who knew him and on the inner circle, a loyal and trusted friend who was never more than a phone call away."
Paul was cheeky, funny, tenacious, and cheerful.
- Friend Roger King
Friend and fellow Rotarian Roger King paid tribute to Mr Mines, who had done a long stint as their club's bulletin editor.
"Paul was cheeky, funny, tenacious, and cheerful," Mr King said.
"But above all, he was truly inspirational.
"Despite being burdened with a disproportionate share of serious health issues over very many years, he rarely mentioned them, and never complained.
"We are all the better for having known the man."
Mr Mines retired in 2007 to enjoy time with wife Kerri-Anne and daughters Amy, Hannah and Esther, and rejoiced as the family grew to include five grandchildren.
Hannah Walkom, nee Mines, said she was proud to say Paul Mines was her dad, but he was also so much more.
A mentor, financial advisor, marriage counsellor, career advisor, a joker and mood up-lifter, my inspiration to surviving tough times.
- Hannah Walkom, nee Mines
"A mentor, financial advisor, marriage counsellor, career advisor, a joker and mood up-lifter, my inspiration to surviving tough times - all this and yet mostly our times together were spent laughing, being silly and taking jabs at each other," she said.
"Dad was so much fun to be around - I cannot put into words the enormous love and wonderful friendship we shared, and the space that now exists in our lives.
"No matter who my Dad was to you, chances are that just knowing Paul Mines meant you'd met a really good bloke, a bloke you loved too."
Their time was cut short, but Mrs Walkom said they had already been "gifted an extra 15 years because of someone's decision to be an organ donor".
She stressed the importance of people discussing organ donation and letting their family members know their wishes.
"Organ donation gave Dad time and gave us time to be with him," Mrs Walkom said.
"Dad had time to walk each of his three daughters down the aisle, and Dad had time to achieve the title of Pa, something we are each truly grateful for."