By Emily-Rose Toohey
Well-known Warwick local Chris Collins is being remembered by his family and the community at large after he was killed in a workplace accident on Saturday 4 June.
The 52-year-old is survived by his wife Jo and their children Sophie and Alistair, as well as extended family.
Southern Downs Regional Council (SDRC) Councillor Sheryl Windle read a tribute to the late local at last Wednesday’s council meeting on behalf of the family, after getting to know them when Sophie was part of the Youth Council in 2020.
“Chris was a good-natured, friendly, kind, well-respected, and generous man, always willing to lend a hand whenever anyone needed help,” Cr Windle said.
“He was creative and could turn his hand to take on projects that others would find impossible – nothing deterred him.
“His latest challenge was breaking in his horse Benji, which was something he always wanted to achieve.”
She said he particularly loved to have a place to gather with his family and hence built a bar in their home and named it ‘The Rusty Nail’.
“Always a taskmaster, he had many plans for things he wanted to create at home for his family to enjoy in the future,” Cr Windle said.
“Chris had a strong love for his family, his mates, football, and rodeos.
“He was highly regarded and well respected both on and off the field.
“His family was very important to him and he particularly loved an opportunity to gather with the large Collins clan.”
Furthermore, she said that positivity was one of his trademarks.
“Everyone and anyone who has had the privilege of knowing Chris Collins will remember him for his high values and as a person taken far too soon,” she said.
“It will be very difficult to fill the void that he has left and there’s a huge hole in his family.”
Warwick Cowboys president Dayne Barrett said Chris had been an active member of the Warwick Cowboys Old Boys.
“He has always been a really good person,” Daye said.
“Chris and his wife Joanne were also sponsors of the Reserve Grade games.”
He said the Cowboys took a minute’s silence prior to the Jim Stevens Memorial Trophy game on Sunday 5 June out of respect.
“The club’s greatest loss is for his immediate family,” he said.
This difficult loss will be remembered by those whose lives Chris had touched, and thoughts and prayers are offered to his family at this time.
