Big plans to celebrate the life of much loved Bribie Island personal trainer Andrew McGillivray

The wife of a much-loved personal trainer and former police officer who died in a motorcycle crash north of Brisbane has shared a touching tribute ahead of the funeral.

Close to 400 motorcyclists are expected to escort much-loved Bribie Island personal trainer Andrew McGillivray on his final ride this weekend.

The 61-year-old Bongaree man sadly died after the motorcycle he was riding collided with the rear of a truck at Ningi on December 6.

Mr McGillivray, a father to three and grandfather to four, has been remembered as a larger than life character, a social butterfly and true inspiration.

He grew up in New Zealand and was a constable in the New Zealand Police from 1990 to 2004 before moving to Australia with his wife of 20 years Cathy.

The pair met at a gym in New Zealand 30 years ago.

“He was my best friend and I was his,” Cathy said.

“We never needed a lot of other people because we just had each other.”

But Mr McGillivray loved to socialise and make new friends.

“He would talk to absolutely anybody and everybody even if they didn’t want to talk to him,” Cathy said.

“He didn’t care who you were – he would talk to you about anything and want to help you.”

When they first moved to Australia, to be closer to Cathy’s family, Mr McGillivray owned and operated Bribie Island Car detailing.

Cathy opened her personal training business Fit Beyond 50.

Mr McGillivray who had a long history training as a weightlifter soon joined with his wife.

They ran the business from their home – with a fully equipped gym each at either end of the house.

Despite having all the equipment at home Mr McGillivray would still train at another gym, simply because he enjoyed being social.

Cathy said weekends were spent cruising on their motorbikes or if it was raining in the El Camino.

“While he was a cop in New Zealand he had started riding a motorbike and when we moved here the deal was that he got to buy a brand new Harley,” Cathy said.

“One day we went on this really long ride, like 500km, and it was not a comfortable seat. I said ‘that’s it I’m never doing this again’.

“He said if you hate it so much get your own bike’.

“So I did, that was about 12 years ago and it was something we came to love doing together.”

Cathy said there were few on Bribie Island who hadn’t met Mr McGillivray at least once – whether it was while he was out doing their daily shop, the gym or walking the dog along the waterfront in his underwear.

“He used to walk along the waterfront in just his underpants, I always walked in front, he didn’t care what other people thought,” Cathy said.

“Andrew’s attitude to life was that you shouldn’t do something because of what someone else thinks.”

Mr McGillivray’s life will be celebrated on Saturday.

Cathy said one of his favourite quotes and life mottos would be written on the service sheet: “Either blend in, sit at the back and never be remembered or make a statement, sit at the front and make your presence known”.

More than 400 motorcyclists are expected to take part in the funeral procession from the McGillivray home at Bongaree to the service at Deception Bay on Saturday morning.

Cathy said she had never realised just how many lives her husband had affected.

“I’ve been overwhelmed by the support and I can never thank everybody enough, from the random strangers who hugged me on the waterfront and my really close friends who have been there for me all the time,” she said.

Mr McGillivray will be placed in the back of his loved El Camino, with a close friend driving and Cathy in the passenger seat.

Up to 400 motorcyclists are then expected to follow to The Great Northern Garden of Remembrance for the service.

Those attending the funeral have been asked to wear the brightest colours they own.