For close to 50 years, Mr Jarratt served the community, working for the attorney general’s department, the RAAF where he held a rank equivalent to that of an army colonel and as principal at Sheekey Williams Lawyers.

Personal and professional friend Graeme Burmeister said he couldn’t believe it when he heard the news on Friday night.

“Bruce was a great man and a great lawyer,” Mr Burmeister said. “He was very particular with an eye for detail and was respected by the courts and in military circles.”

Retired solicitor Michael Kennedy was shocked when he heard of Mr Jarratt’s unexpected passing and paid tribute to the “very likeable chap”.

“I’ve known Bruce since he came to Wagga, he was very popular around town,” Mr Kennedy said. “He was friendly to everyone and fit in extremely well, just an easy person to work with, genuine and co-operative and really appreciated life.”

The veteran lawyer was from the “old school”, Mr Kennedy said.

“I was in the game for 50 years and in the old days everyone was there to help everyone out,” he said. “Bruce was like that, he’d bend over backwards for you, he had such a quiet, lovely personality. I guess he was one of those quiet workers, he wasn’t an aggressive sort, you get a lot of attorneys now that just want to win all the time and get on top, but Bruce was the opposite, he’d rather work with you to achieve a result rather than be argumentative.”

While Mr Jarratt’s family and friends are still coming to terms with their loss, Wagga’s legal community has rallied behind the long-serving lawyer.

Mr Kennedy said there would be a meeting early this week to decide on how everyone could help the firm and its clients during this difficult time, a fitting tribute inspired by a man who spent his working life finding ways to help others.