So many attended the funeral of the late Ron Harborne on Tuesday that seating and speakers were set up in an adjoining hall for those who couldn’t fit inside the Moree Uniting Church, and chairs were set up on the grass outside for those who couldn’t fit inside the hall. 

Mr Harborne’s children, granddaughters, Father Paul McCabe and Reverend Rob Buchan spoke of a man who was a role model, a friend, a source of strength and, above all, a doting and beloved family man. 

His granddaughter, Abigail Regan, explained the significance of the mounds of little, white lollies.

“It was no secret that Grandpa was special,” Abigail said. “Not everyone could say their grandpa had carried an Olympic torch, been awarded an OAM or had an oval named after him.”

But it wasn’t just their pride in him which made Mr Harborne’s granddaughters want to ride in Grandpa’s car. 

“We knew that, no matter what, in the golf tin beside his glove box there would be a Minty waiting for us,” Abigail said. “So in his memory we ask that everyone in the church today takes a Minty and remembers our Grandpa.” 

There was plenty to remember about the boy who moved to town when he was five, studied at Moree Public, and went on to devote so much of his life to the development of a place which he considered “the capital of Australia”.

His family told of a man who was a councillor, salesman, fireman, harmonica player, sportsman and the loudest singer at church.   

But as Rev Buchan acknowledged, these stories only scratched the surface of Mr Harborne’s 87-year innings. 

“What a life,” Rev Buchan said. “I’m sure there are so many stories in this room that they could fill weeks, if not months, if not years, of people’s lives. 

“And what a wonderful legacy so many of those stories are.”

Despite an enviable legacy, Mr Harborne always kept his feet firmly grounded and his dry sense of humour was often used at his own expense. 

Rev Buchan recounted a story from the day on which Mr Harborne was awarded the Order of Australia in 1999. 

Governor General William Deane asked Mr Harborne why an oval was named after him, to which the Moree man replied: “Well someone had to mow the lawn on Saturdays”.

It might also have had something to do with Mr Harborne’s life-long championing of rugby league and cricket, his 19 years serving as a councillor and his sense of civic pride which ran so deep he couldn’t walk past litter picking it up, or a familiar face without stopping for a chat. 

That his friendship was offered to all, was reflected among those who came to pay their respects to Mr Harborne on Tuesday. Young and old, labourers in high-viz, councillors in smart suits and farmers in cowboy boots, the congregation diversity was a reflection of the many different ways Mr Harborne devoted his time and his energy to the community. 

“And we all know how important it was for Ronny to attend everybody’s funeral,” his daughter, Lyndy Regan said. 

Mrs Regan spoke of her father’s life-long passion for sports. It was a passion which saw him represent Moree in rugby league and cricket, take on all comers on the tennis court, retreat to the snooker hall during inclement weather and “solve the world’s problems” with his friends on the golf course. 

“I used to joke with Dad that we wouldn’t have to write a eulogy, as he’d already received so many accolades for his services to the community,” she said.  

His sons, Mark and Garth, said Mr Harborne’s passion for footy was not only restricted to Moree.

“Dad was a Dragons supporter through and through and was chuffed in 2010 when the mighty Dragons won the grand final,” Mark said. “We had to listen to him sing ‘When the Saints go Marching In’ continuously ... jeez he was a good singer though.” 

They told the crowd how special it was to play cricket with, and against, their old man. 

“Dad always instilled in us the importance of playing team sports and learning how to be a good loser,” Mark said. “Except if it was the Dragons against Souths ... that was hard.”

Despite Mr Harborne’s humility, the pride his family took in his life and legacy was plain for all to see. 

“My Grandpa ‘Harb’ was a man who had smiles to brighten your days, who always made you feel good with his warm words of praise and what’s more, he knew what to do to make wishes come true,” his granddaughter Jessica Thomas said. “He was no ordinary man and I’m proud to tell the world that Harry Ronald Harborne was my Grandpa.”