His wife Robyn and children Timothy, Nicole and Jeremy remember a proud family man with a deep love for the city he helped develop.

“Cedric was a caring, hardworking man who was passionate about life,” Robyn said.

“He loved his family, friends, farming, travelling and Griffith. In fact, I’d say that Griffith was his passion.

“I remember he used to say he’d stay in Griffith until it got a clean water supply. We got it and then he always found another excuse to stay here, he just loved it.

“Whether it was work or play he was always active, he’d be the first on the ski slopes.

“The hardest part of his illness was being forced to sit still, for a man who was once so active he found that frustrating.”

Cedric arrived in Griffith from the United Kingdom with his family, father Eric and mother Isobel and sisters Erica and Rosemary and brother Roger in 1958.

His father was the head of the CSIRO Irrigation Research Station. In what would become the first of his many lasting influences on the town he loved, a year after arriving, Cedric won a competition for Griffith Public School’s motto, Do Your Best, which is still used today.

Cedric is well respected for his many professional achievements but it’s the tireless work with countless community groups including Griffith Rotary Club, Griffith Wine and Food Festival committee, Riverina Regional Development Board and Australian Business Limited that demonstrated his generosity and compassion.

His daughter Nicole described him as an inspiration.

“When I was little we’d go around the whole town and if he’d see something that needed attention he’d make note of it and say ‘that has to be fixed’.

“When the saleyards were being planned, we’d do the

rounds of saleyards wherever we went on our holidays,” she said.

“Dad loved to ski and he loved growing grapes, he was in his element when he wandered up and down the vines with his radio,” Nicole said.

Despite being diagnosed with cancer in 2004 he refused to let his illness consume his life and only retired as councillor in January this year.

Cedric will be sadly missed by his wife Robyn, his children, and daughter-in-law Amanda, grandchildren Oliver and Rosie and his sister Erica, brother Roger and sister Rosemary.

A funeral service for Cedric will be held at St Albans Cathedral on Wednesday, June 11, at 11am.