A community is in mourning after Kingston man Norm Suckling was identified as the motorcyclist killed after a road accident near Bendigo on Tuesday afternoon.
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The 64-year-old motorcyclist died following a collision with a truck carrying bee hives on the Calder Alternative Highway at the Bullock Road intersection about midday.
The potato farmer and long time Country Fire Authority member has been remembered as a busy man who was always willing to lend a hand to others in the community.
Growing up on the family farm at Mollongghip, Norm went on to take it over from his father and purchase other parcels of land to farm, including at Kingston. He undertook mixed farming including potatoes, livestock and crops.
He has been described as an innovative farmer who was always keen to try new ideas and find new markets to sell his produce.
Norm was a fierce advocate for potato farmers, including when McCain announced it would source less produce from local suppliers and when it lowered the purchase price of potatoes.
Read more: Potato growers wary over McCain closure
Read more: Tough times for Daylesford district farmers
He was also well-known for his thriving trucking business, which transports general freight right around the nation.
Norm was incredibly involved in community, including with the CFA. A member for 48 years and Mollongghip captain for 22 (ending in 2005), he recently took on the Deputy Group Officer role.
He was a highly experienced member of the Birch group of brigades, providing invaluable leadership and guidance, mentoring many people not only within the CFA but across many sectors of the community.
He responded to many major fires during his time with the CFA and was a source of wisdom to younger volunteers and other CFA leaders in the area.
Mollongghip captain Mark Slater said the brigade was in shock and was saddened after learning the news.
Norm was a highly respected and loved member of Mollongghip brigade. He was a mentor - somebody I always turned to for information. He was very level-headed and I always trusted his ideas and decision making.
- Mollongghip CFA captain Mark Slater
Norm became fiercely passionate about the politics surrounding water almost two decades ago and with the current controversy surrounding the Murray Darling Basin - the Mollongghip area is in the catchment zone - the community has lost one of its most vocal and knowledgeable leaders.
Read more: Dry Ballarat region needs drought help
He started advocating for water users in the basin in 2000 when he was appointed to the Goulburn Murray Water Spring Hill Groundwater Supply Protection Area Consultative Committee.
This plan was superseded by the Loddon Highlands Water Supply Protection Area in 2012, but he was again made a member to ensure it was fair to all users in the area it covered.
He spent almost 20 years on Goulburn Murray Water's Loddon-Campaspe Regional Water Service Committee, holding the position of Chairperson for four years until his passing.
Hepburn Shire Council Mayor Cr Don Henderson said Norm was well known in the community.
"He was a good person who contributed to the community. He was very well respected," Cr Henderson said. "We will miss him."
"When someone passes on it is always sad but it hurts more when someone is from a small community as everyone knows them."
Tragically Norm lost his partner of 10 years, Colleen Robertson, in a road accident in 2011.
He is succeeded by four children.
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