‘‘Luke was one of those people, that everywhere he went he just spewed happiness.’’
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That is how Luke Bridge is being remembered by his family and friends this week after he was killed in a car crash on the Moonee Swamp Rd near Deniliquin on Sunday night.
The 19 year-old moved to Deniliquin 18 months ago, closer to some of his family, and was starting to plan for his future after securing a steady job that he loved.
His step-mother Michelle Bridge said Luke was loved by all, and would be sadly missed.
‘‘He was always the first person to put his hand up to pick up the baby, or look after the kids, or help fix the fence,’’ Michelle said.
‘‘He could fix cars, he could sew a button and he could cook.
‘‘He had a really good job with Jess and Steve Butcher (at Riverside Pest Control) and had only just finished a traineeship.
‘‘Luke was a well-rounded, great kid. He dreamed of getting married and having kids, and was looking around in the housing market.’’
Michelle said Luke was also a great friend, and would be there for his mates whenever they needed him.
‘‘His friends would always come to him for advice and he would sit with them for hours listening, or for as long as it took.
‘‘He would bend over backwards for anyone, and he also loved his brothers and sisters.’’
Luke has one older brother, Jake who is 21, and another four younger siblings who live in Deniliquin — Annika, 17, James, 14, Mathew, 11, and Rebekah, 9.
His parents are David Bridge and Helen Presland.
‘‘Luke was just awesome, brave and compassionate,’’ James said.
‘‘He was nice, but at the same time he was annoying,’’ Rebekah added.
‘‘We would like to jump on him and annoy him too, but he didn’t care,’’ she continued.
‘‘We were meant to go floating this year (for the Big Deni Float on Australia Day) but because Luke left his phone at home we didn’t know they had changed the start. But when we missed out, he took us all floating the next day instead.’’
When Luke first came to the Deniliquin region he was working on district dairy farms.
It was after a short stint working with Bennetts Intersport in Deniliquin he landed the job with Riverside Pest Control, which made him part of the team when the business won the Business of the Year award at the 2019 Deniliquin Business Excellence Awards.
‘‘Luke came to Deniliquin from the Hunter Valley area to start the next stage of his life,’’ Michelle said.
‘‘He was living with Paul and Karen Charlton and, because he is friends with their sons, was associated with the Blighty Football Club.
‘‘He was also so intelligent too. If he didn’t know how to do something he would look it up on YouTube and then just go do it.
‘‘Luke rose above every bump in his life and carried himself highly — he was one of those souls that is just brilliant.’’
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