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Cricket community pay tribute to 'genuine, passionate' coach

Matt Conwell will be remembered as a genuine, good natured young man who was passionate about cricket.

Queensland Cricket talent and identification officer Matt Conwell coaches at the DDSWQ Lords Taverner final selection trials at Downlands College.
Queensland Cricket talent and identification officer Matt Conwell coaches at the DDSWQ Lords Taverner final selection trials at Downlands College.

Matt Conwell will be remembered as a genuine, good natured young man.

No request was too much for the Queensland Talent ID coach for the Darling Downs South West Queensland region and he was passionate about his role.

"He was last here a few weeks ago helping us selection our team," DDDSWQ Lord Taverners cricket team manager Brad Spanner said.

"I always found him to be a nice young man.

"Very approachable, professional and passionate.

Matt Conwell with his wife Ashleigh, who is pregnant with triplets.
Matt Conwell with his wife Ashleigh, who is pregnant with triplets.

"If he didn't have the answer to your question he'd find it for you as soon as possible.

DDSWQ wore black armbands in their season opener against Norths and observed a minute's silence before the first ball.

"The news of his passing shocked us all, it's such a tragedy," Spanner said.

Conwell died on September 2 after being hit by a 4WD near the intersection of Bedivere St and Meadowlands Rd, Carindale.

Friends have rallied around his wife Ashleigh Conwell, whose triplets are due at the end of the year, and who is facing first-time parenting without her "beloved soulmate".

"It's devastating news," DDSWQ male junior director of coaching Norm Martin said.

"Matt was fantastic for our region.

"He was very engaging, dedicated and a very good listener when you approached him with a question or problem.

Matt Conwell with his wife Ashleigh.
Matt Conwell with his wife Ashleigh.

"He never put himself on a pedestal and nothing was ever a problem for him.

"He went above and beyond to help out where ever he could."

Friend Alex Nesevski has created to a GoFundMe page to "help Ashleigh bring her and Matt's little trio into the world and provide a future for them".

"Losing Matt has placed an almost overwhelming burden on Ashleigh," she said.

"Not only has Ashleigh's world been torn apart emotionally, the financial hardship she now finds herself in is significant."

Originally published as Cricket community pay tribute to 'genuine, passionate' coach

Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/regional/cricket-community-pay-tribute-to-genuine-passionate-coach/news-story/5755bc7a8fa9bcaf71f6193347cd4472