WITH countless friends, a beautiful family, successful career and a passion for sport and the community, Joe Howard had it all.
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And no one could begrudge him for it either, because he was selfless, genuine and worked hard.
But the 34-year-old's life was cut tragically short on Friday after a water-skiing accident in Morundah.
Joe was skiing on Columbo Creek when he hit a tree, just before 5pm.
Paramedics attended the scene, but they were unable to revive him.
Joe is survived by his wife, Mel, and three children, Dougal, 7, Lucy, 5, and Angus, 3.
Well known through his work as general manager of Rundles Auctions, Joe had taken over the presidency of Wagga Brothers at the start of the year.
It was a club he was passionate about, playing 175 games over a long period and serving as reserve grade coach for three years.
Joe’s brother, Ben, yesterday spoke on behalf of the Wagga family, remembering his best mate who always put his family and friends first.
“When I look back, he meant everything to me,” he said.
“Even though he was my little brother, I would ask his advice and bounce everything off him, no matter what it would be.
“For someone so busy, the amount of time he would spend with his kids was amazing.
“It was unbelievable one bloke could have so many best mates.
“He was unselfish, he would help everyone out; he was a great organiser and a born leader.
“He loved life, there wouldn’t be many people his age who had achieved so much and had such an influence.”
It was attributes such as these that made Joe a popular person his entire life, according to long-time friend Brett Fifield.
The pair graduated from Yanco Agricultural High School together in 1996.
“A lot of people will feel like they’ve been robbed of one of the finest, admirable young men,” he said.
“Growing up with Joe, he was the bloke who would always make you laugh.
“Even at the most serious times he managed to find the lighter side to the situation.
“He was the last to ask for something but the first to give.”
Rundles Auctions managing director Richard Allsopp spoke about how Joe excelled in his career after first starting as a trainee auctioneer at the company 14 years ago.
“He wasn’t just an employee, he was a good mate,” he said.
“He excelled because of his personality, his cheekiness and the fact he was a hard worker.”
Despite all this hard work, Joe also made time for a large amount of charity work.
Two organisations close to his heart were Riverina Bluebell, which focuses on mental health, and Pillars of Strength, which provides dads with support after they have lost a baby or while their baby is sick.
He was also involved with the PCYC.
On Friday night, Brothers players stepped out in black arm bands when they competed at the West Wyalong Knockout.
They had just heard the news of Joe’s death and past president of the club, Steve Mullins, said they were shattered.
“He was very outgoing and he hit the ground running, not just for the team, but for the whole town, really,” he said.
“He put a spring in the step of the club – he got things going with new blood and new ideas.”
Vice president of Southern Inland Rugby Union and close friend to the Howard family, Jeff White, also paid tribute to Joe.
“He was in the prime of his life,” he said.
“He was a bloke’s bloke, but he was very conscious and protective of his family – he was a great family man and a devoted father.
“If you were in the trenches, he would be the bloke you’d want by your side.”