Lawrence Springborg has become the faithful family labrador of Queensland politics - universally liked and respected but not relied on by his masters to catch and kill a hearty dinner.
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His colleagues went close enough to taking him out and shooting him when they changed leadership to Tim Nicholls in May this year.
Now, after keeping his head down so his leader can forge his own brand, Lawrence Springborg has declared he will get out of state politics.
Here's a tip, Lawrence. Don't get out of politics altogether. It needs more of your decency, courage and experience to reinstate voter faith in a system that is veering from the rails.
Let's just look at those, and let's start with decency.
Springborg served as health minister in Campbell Newman's government. In a regime that lost its way between incompetence and arrogance, Springborg stood out for the simple reason that he treated people as they should be treated. Unlike many ministers, he didn't hector them or "pretend" to consult them. He simply valued the input of public servants.
And then when the easiest thing to do was to highlight the leadership failings of Campbell Newman - post the election - he declined. He chose respect over a cheap political win, and that's a decency not highlighted on politics.
Courage is the second attribute he's shown in spades. Springborg's decision to put his own leadership on the line in leading the amalgamation of the two conservative parties will be his enduring legacy, and a good example of that political courage. He did that without the support of many in his party, and with his eye on the future - not political expediency.
That amalgamation put the conservatives in power, despite Lawrence Springborg never really receiving sufficient credit for that.
It's hard not to compare that political courage with the mamby-pamby poll politics that is now driving government policy at the national level.
And that brings us to experience. Lawrence Springborg was first elected to Parliament in 1989, at the age of 21. He's now 48. That experience, which has included three stints as leader, is invaluable in a political world that has learnt to turn over leaders at a moment's notice.
Sure, he failed during those stints to win government, and carries the taint of that. But his current leader would be happy with his poll numbers - particularly at a time when he might just be the antidote conservatives need to ward off One Nation and its ilk.
Lawrence Springborg has made the decision to leave state politics, and given what his family has sacrificed, that's understandable.
But he is a big loss to the Queensland Parliament and voters should hope he's got his eye focused more on George Brandis's Senate position than the outlook for rain at his family farm at Yelarbon.
