The sudden death of Paul Ian Witherdin at the age of 53 on January 24 this year, was a deep shock and a keenly felt loss to all those who had the privilege of knowing him.
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The much-loved son of Ian and Maureen and adored sibling of Karen, Mark and Chrissie Witherdin was born on August 10, 1966 in Inverell District Hospital.
He loved his home-town and although he went on to live in other towns and cities, he was laid to rest here in the place he called 'home.'
Paul had a rich and wonderful childhood which fostered a love of the bush, outdoor adventures, a sense of humour and a love of people, family and learning.
From his formative years it was evident that Paul was gifted in many aspects, including leadership, academics and sport.
Whilst most children watched Playschool as preschoolers, Paul was watching Professor Sumner Miller on ABC's Science show.
He was Captain of primary school and secondary school at Holy Trinity School as well as Dux.
At Macintyre High School he was again both Captain and Dux in Year 12.
Ian had the joy of coaching both Paul and Mark in football for Inverell Easts.
Paul was an A grade cricketer, athlete, cross country runner and footballer. He was many times Champion Swimmer and a Diocesan representative.
He was Captain of the Schools' Opens and the Inverell Hawks' Juniors, made the North West side and was offered trials with four Sydney sides.
However, Paul had always had a deep love of learning and Science and thus he left Inverell and commenced a degree at the University of New South Wales in Civil Engineering where he graduated with Honours.
He was Captain of both the New College football team and the University of NSW Rugby League team.
He thrived at New College, making many lifelong friends who travelled from all over Australia to attend his funeral.
It was here he that met Kim Magann, the mother of his much-loved children, Hannah, Darcy and Josie.
Paul was a devoted father, president of many organisations the girls were involved in from netball to swimming to athletics to Scouts and more.
He built cubbies, took them camping, riding, afternoon teas and shopping.
He adored his treasured girls and was steadfast in his love for them.
As the girls grew older both their and Paul's competitive spirit saw many family races, and much enjoyment, in swimming and athletics!
Paul, on graduating, had a rich career in his chosen field. He was both a Chartered Professional Engineer and a Fellow of Engineers Australia.
Loyalty was part of his DNA and thus he spent most of his career with one firm, Parsons Brinckerhoff, later to become WSP, in the Hunter, then Sydney and Melbourne.
He was integral in a diverse range of projects, from the Yass bypass, to Sydney's third runway to mining and building bridges.
At the time of his death, Paul led operations in building the Caulfield to Dandenong SkyRail Line.
To do so, he had continued to learn and grow his practice in both management and expanding into the field of electrical engineering. He led a team including over 50 designers.
A sign of the respect in which he was held was the gathering held at the War Memorial in Clayton for Paul with well over 150 people in attendance.
Many flew to Inverell for his funeral. Furthermore, counsellors were employed in every office he had been part of as staff struggled with his loss.
Condolences were received from all over Australia, and from throughout the UK and as far away as Romania Letters received by his family have praised him as a "preeminent engineer of his generation".
He was known for his steadying influence, his patience and forbearance, rationalism and objectivity, someone who 'gave us all an example and a yardstick to measure ourselves against and to strive towards'.
He was noted for his extreme kindness, his ability to listen, his caring nature and willingness to take time to fulfil the role of mentor for interns and others; his smile, positivity and larrikin sense of humour. All this and a great humility.
Paul adored the outdoors all his life. He ran and rode his bike nearly every day. On the day he died he was flying to Newcastle to partake in an ocean swim with his eldest daughter Hannah.
He had climbed Nepal and the Scottish Highlands and cycled most of Europe.
He would stop and take photos of the beauty he observed. He loved literature and the words of one of his favourite books, One Hundred Years of Solitude contains the line "He who awaits can expect little".
Paul chose to live richly and well in the limited time he had. He loved deeply and was loved deeply.
The lives of all that had the privilege to know him are greatly diminished and saddened by the loss of his presence from our lives.
Paul is survived by his three beautiful daughters Hannah, Darcy and Josie, his parents Maureen and Ian and his siblings Karen, Mark and Chrissie.