Orange: Father Michael ‘Mick’ Cotter dies in car crash on way home to see children

A young father of three from NSW’s central west who died in a car crash on the way home to see his children will be remembered for having a “heart of gold”.

Mick Cotter with his family. Picture: Supplied

A father of three from Orange is being remembered for his “heart of gold” and “mischievous” nature.

Michael ‘Mick’ Cotter, 24, died in a car crash on the way home to see his children, when his car hit a kangaroo and smashed into a tree on Crookwell Rd, about 25km north of Goulburn on April 6.

Emergency services were called about 2.45am and found a Toyota HiLux had left the road.

Mick died at the scene and a report will be prepared for the Coroner.

Mick’s brother Mitchell Cotter told this masthead his brother was outgoing, adventurous and “sometimes mischievous”.

Mitch recalled creating childhood memories with Mick at Molong Creek. Picture: Google Maps

He loved camping, hunting, working on his car and spending time with family and friends, who called him ‘Big Mikie’.

“We all knew he would tell us some bizarre and funny story about his week when he popped in to visit,” Mitch said.

Mitch recalled a favourite childhood memory with Mick when they floated down Molong Creek on old logs for about 2km before hopping off and walking back up the stream to do it again.

“No matter how much we argued about picking the right log to float on,” he said.

Mitch remembered when Mick changed the oil filter on his 1971 Triumph and forgot to put the rubber seal back on, which resulted in their mother’s gravel driveway being covered in oil.

He said Mick worked hard to provide for and help raise his daughter and two sons.

“He loved, cherished and idolised his kids,” he said.

“He often called his baby girl his ‘booboo’,” he said. “He had a heart of gold and would do anything to help them.”

Mick played for the Cabonne Roos rugby club when he was younger and was passionate about winning games.

“When his team lost, he would say: ‘Should have been us who won’,” Mitch said.

“It’s hard to put his life into a few words, but I hope he is proud. I miss him so much and can’t wait for him to annoy me when we meet again.”

Mitch created a GoFundMe to help support his family and cover funeral expenses.

You can donate here.