Standing room only at Charlie Mead’s funeral

For example, he would meet the last train at midnight in Benalla, offering blankets to anyone who was on hard times and sleeping rough. This act of kindness lasted 17 years.

Charlie was also a revered figure in the train industry in the north-east, where he spent most of his working life working on the railways.

His railway bosses sung his praises at his funeral and one even admitted seeking his advice on matters because it was straight from the heart and so professional.

His tireless efforts in the aftermath of the Southern Aurora tragedy at Violet Town in 1969 were praised and a monument has been erected at the crash site to honour him.

But Charlie’s kindness stretched well beyond Benalla and Violet Town.

Charlie became well known in Kyabram after his brother Jack died after surgery in the late 1940s.

Jack was a member of the 1948 Kyabram Football Club team that won the flag under Bob Hornbuckle, and Charlie became a generous donor to the club and its footballers and netballers. He was a regular at Kyabram home games for the next 60 years.

Charlie died after suffering a fall. He was 88.