KEITH Hulett, 43, died on the Barkly Highway on Thursday evening instantly after his car and a road train collided.
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The Cloncurry based locomotive driver was a Brisbane Broncos fan who was passionate about trains, and enjoyed listening to Shania Twain and drinking Jack Daniels.
The bachelor was described as a man who would “take the shirt off his back for you and might ask why later. Usually not.”
Mr Hulett came from Ingham who moved to Cloncurry for work six years ago. His sister travels from Ingham this weekend to collect his personal effects.
“His first word was ‘train’,” Ms Hulett said.
“Keith was a very avid train fan ever since he was old enough to crawl.
“He was one of the very few people who get paid to do something they really love.
“He was one in a million and very hard to describe. Not one enemy. The one bloke the whole town loved and admired from staid old grannies to yobbos in pubs all day. He got along with everyone.”
Mr Hulett worked at Victoria Mill in Ingham for 20 years, starting as a navvy on the train tracks, eventually working his way up to become a driver. He served in the army reserve, played rugby union, and extensively traveled the world.
“The biggest thing with Keith is he was a massive trainspotter. When travelling overseas he would travel all the railway lines first, then tourist attractions second," his sister said.
Mr Hulett was also a member of the Herbert River Brass Band. He played the tuba socially.
His nickname was Corgi and it is a name that has stuck for 20 years. Mr Hulett was asleep during a lunch break at work at Victoria Mill, when a corgi found his leg to be specially attractive. His friends thought this was hilarious.
These same friends were crying on Friday.
“It takes a lot to make men cry,” Ms Hulett said. “But tears were overflowing at mill today.”
A Facebook page has been set up called ‘Notices for Keith Hulett.’ Details on arrangements for his memorial would be posted on the page.
Ms Hulett said; “service arrangements will be advised at a later date, but please, for the moment, raise your glass and have a Jack Daniels for him.”