Tributes are flowing for a well-loved farm worker who was tragically killed in a road accident in the Far North in Queensland on Sunday.
Maninder Singh Matharu, known as Mani to his friends and Hope Vale’s local community, worked as a caretaker in a banana farm in the small coastal town.
The 35-year-old has been described as “loved by many” by his friends and a force of life by the community members who knew him closely.
Yadwinder Singh who has travelled to Hope Vale to bid goodbye to his friend told SBS Punjabi that he’d always remember Mani as a “loving and kind person”.
“He was special to everyone around him. He was much loved and would always be keen to extend his helping hand to anyone in need,” said Mr Singh who hails from the same Indian village as Mani.
“His family has been informed of his sudden demise. We are now making arrangements to send his body to his family in India,” he added.
Gurinder Singh Mavi, an Indian community leader based in Queensland also expressed his condolences to Mr. Matharu’s family over this tragic death.
“He has been taken away too soon. A young life lost is always a tragedy. I’d like to extend my condolences to his family and friends here and back in India,” Mr. Mavi told SBS Punjabi.
Mr. Matharu was driving on Aerodrome Road in Hope Vale, when he lost control of his car. It rolled due to impact, before hitting into a fence belonging to the airport, at around 5 pm over the weekend.
According to the Queensland Police, the 35-year-old was pronounced deceased at the scene. He was alone in the vehicle at the time of the mishap.
Originally from Kurukshetra district in the north Indian state of Haryana, Mr. Matharu arrived in Australia in 2006 and had been working at the banana farm for the past ten years.
In 2015, he became the only person to ever be sworn in as an Australian citizen at the community’s lone citizenship ceremony.
Cairns Forensic Crash Unit officers are investigating the cause of the crash.
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