Clancy Johnston, 21, farewelled at public Gloucester celebration of life after tragic Gunnedah truck crash death

Hundreds have come together, many in cowboy attire, to celebrate the life of popular 21-year-old Mid-North Coast man Clancy Johnston, who was tragically killed in a truck crash.

Hundreds have come together at Gloucester, many in cowboy attire, following a request from family to celebrate the life of a young man tragically killed in a Gunnedah truck crash.

Clancy Johnston was widely loved and admired and is now sorely missed.

The 21-year-old from the Mid-North Coast’s coffin was brightly adorned with cattle being mustered into the setting sun.

It was driven through on an open truck as friends and family came together at the Gloucester Recreation Centre on Thursday to celebrate a life tragically cut short on April 13.

His coffin was later choppered away from the fields as the crowds waved and cheered.

Mr Johnston’s truck was hauling aviation fuel, which spilt into the road and surrounding area after the vehicle crashed into a tree about 8am.

The young man’s deep love for his family shone through in the tributes that flowed following the shock death.

Mr Johnston was a much-loved uncle to his sister Shelby Johnston’s children, Indie and Casey.

Liam Ricketts took to social media to post an image of Mr Johnston competing in a rodeo.

“I knew you as someone who loved their family hard, someone who worked hard, someone who was tough as nails, someone who wasn’t afraid of a damn thing – this picture proves it,” he wrote.

Clancy Johnston competing at a rodeo. Picture: Facebook/Liam Ricketts.

Mr Ricketts said he remembered Mr Johnston asking him to “come muster the cattle with us in the morning”. When he said he could not ride, Mr Johnston replied “don’t worry we’ll teach ya” – like it was nothing.

“Like you’d expect me to have the same confidence in myself that you had in yourself. You were full of confidence in the absolute modest of ways,” Mr Ricketts said.

“You were someone I truly admired and I never told you that. I never said it out loud till this week.

“You were a bloody inspiration – I miss you mate, I always will. Rest easy cowboy.”

Clancy Johnston was well-known in the Wingham and Gloucester area. He lost his life in a single-vehicle truck crash at Gunnedah on April 13.

To help fund the funeral, Emma Campbell organised an online GoFundMe fundraising campaign on behalf of Mr Johnston’s sister Shelby, which raised more than $16,000.

Ms Johnston was contacted for comment, but declined.

Ms Campbell said close friends became family and family meant the world to Mr Johnston.

She said “his friends who became his family, he loved just as much”.

“He was the sunshine in a lot of people’s lives. He was fun-loving, hardworking and a bloody great young man,” Ms Campbell said.

Relatives including parents Darryl and Jodie, alongside friends, gathered at the recreation grounds at 11am, before a private cremation was held.

A crowd watches on.

Hundreds attended the celebration. Picture: Facebook, Destiny Carey.

Meanwhile, on the Monday following the crash, it was revealed at Taree Local Court that Mr Johnston was the alleged victim of a crime at the time of his death.

Jason Maxwell Hardy was facing court after almost two months remanded in custody when a police prosecutor said a victim in the case – Mr Johnston – had lost his life over the weekend.

Hardy was made aware of the crash, the court heard, but there is no suggestion he had any involvement whatsoever.

He has been charged with aggravated enter dwelling with intent to inflict actual bodily harm, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, as well as common assault. The 34-year-old with no criminal history did not enter pleas.

He was bailed to his next court date on May 13, ordered not to leave a Sydney address and must report to the Wentworthville Police Station.