Tributes flow after popular Casino man Brett Joseph “Lofty” Carroll loses life to melanoma cancer aged 55
An outpouring of grief has flowed after a much-loved Casino identity tragically lost his life to cancer. His family have remembered the “true gentleman” with a “love for giving”.
Lismore
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A mass outpouring of tributes have flowed after a much-loved Northern Rivers man tragically lost his life to melanoma cancer.
Casino’s Brett Joseph “Lofty” Carroll has been remembered as a friendly and generous man who touched the hearts of those he met
Sadly, Mr Carroll passed at his home on Wednesday, January 17 – loved ones holding his hand as a fight with cancer ended. Mr Carroll was only 55.
One of his favourite sayings, Mr Carroll often told his loved ones: “I’ll be the greatest fan of your life.”
His cousin Adele Eyles said Mr Carroll was always “Brett” to her – but to the town of Casino near Lismore in northern NSW, he was “Lofty”.
Ms Eyles said Mr Carroll was “happy when he went without in order to help someone else”.
“He was a kind, gentle man with a love for giving,” she said.
“A lot of people called him “cuz”, “Lofty” – “Unc” was another one he used to get all the time.” Ms Eyles said, touching on the familiarity Mr Carroll enjoyed with residents.
Born in Casino to Dale and Lenny Carroll, Mr Carroll attended St Mary’s school with older brother Mark.
“He had a lot of beautiful friends … I think it comes from his nature,” Ms Eyles said.
Mr Carroll lost his parents at a young age and aunt Lyla Clifford took the boys under her wing.
“She treated him like he was one of her children and he was one of us to all my brothers and sisters,” Ms Eyles said.
Mr Carroll never wanted to stop playing with his cousins, who were the same age. He would often cheekily hide to avoid an end to the fun.
“He was always full of life – there was never a dull moment with him,” Ms Clifford said.
Partly deaf, Mr Caroll “was always singing out and saying ‘g’day’ to everyone”, Ms Eyles said.
She said he would treat everyone the same, no matter their background.
“He’d give his money away and go without to help somebody he thought needed it more than him,” Ms Clifford said.
J&D Chicken Casino management wrote of Mr Carroll, who worked as a cleaner, including at the town’s shopping centre: “I will never forget one day, a man laying on the floor … sure that he was having a heart attack and waiting for the ambulance.”
“Lofty laid right down beside him, right there on the floor. Why? ‘To make sure this man doesn’t feel alone’ is what he said to me,” they wrote.
The business said Mr Carroll “certainly made the world a better place just by being in it and it’s a huge loss to know that he won’t be here anymore shining his beautiful light”.
Casino SES said of Mr Carroll: “He was a true gentleman, with a fun cheeky side to him.”
“He made everyone he spoke to feel valued and important. You never walked away from him without a smile on your face,” the organisation wrote.
A member of Richmond Range Rugby Club, of which Mr Carroll was also a member, took to social media: “Anyone that had the pleasure of knowing or meeting Lofty would remember a bloke who had a smile a mile wide, a heart as big as Phar Lap and who would give you the shirt off his back.”
Ms Eyles said her cousin would say “sorry” a lot when there was no need, perhaps trying to make others feel comfortable.
She said her family shared Christmas together and Mr Carroll was “larger than life” and had the table in “fits of laughter”.
“He was well enough to eat. He had a beautiful night and he was still feeling well,” she said.
Mr Carroll had a passion for motorbikes and loved Evans Head after spending weekends there with his parents as a child.
“ … that was one of his happy memories,” Ms Clifford said.
A ceremony has been held at Sharks Bay in Evans Head, where Mr Carroll wanted his ashes spread.
Ms Eyles said the occasion was “magic beyond belief”.
“People just kept turning up and turning up and turning up,” Ms Clifford said.
A celebration of Lofty’s life has been arranged for Saturday February 3 from 2pm at the Casino RSM Club.
All welcome.
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