Bradley Ward death: Labrador father remembered as ‘big man with big heart’
A man who died in the driveway of his Gold Coast home this week after an alleged fight with a neighbour has been remembered by devastated family as a “great man” with an “infectious personality”.
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A MAN who died in the driveway of his Gold Coast home this week after an alleged fight with a neighbour played age group football against Origin legends such as Paul “Fatty” Vautin in a golden era of rugby league.
Friends and former teammates of Bradley Ward are remembering a “big man with an even bigger heart”.
“Wardy”, as he was known to his friends, died following a neighbourhood dispute in Labrador in the early hours of Wednesday morning. He was 60.
He leaves behind his two young children, wife and mother who lived with him in the Whiting Street family home.
A neighbour has been charged with manslaughter and on Thursday was denied bail.
Friends and family of Mr Ward paid tribute to the burly but kind fisherman, who was respected as a family man, jack of all trades and all around “good bloke”.
A Labrador boy, Mr Ward graduated from Southport State High School and went to work as a foreman, labourer, plaster and truckie, to name a few of his roles.
His devastated niece Jass Ward said he was more than an uncle to her; he was a second father.
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“It is still so raw,” Ms Ward told the Bulletin.
“We lost one of the greatest men I have ever known.
“He never allowed gender stereotypes to stand in the way of teaching me how to fish, do things on the boat, pump yabbies, shoot, fight, play rugby, bowling and hockey, tie knots and box.
“He was always the first one there if I ever needed anything, regardless of what it was and he treated me like the daughter he never had.”
Ms Ward said her uncle would also regularly take his mother to visit her friend in nursing homes and hospitals.
“But he was also clear cut and straight to the point. He was never one to stay quiet, he would always voice his opinion.
“He was very outgoing and instantly made friends with anyone he spoke to. He had an infectious personality that once you met him you couldn’t stay away.
“I am still in shock.
“He was a big man with a bigger heart,” she said.
A lover of the outdoors, Mr Ward regularly spent his spare time at the front of Harley Park or The Spit, rod in hand.
His long-time mates said Mr Ward cultivated a reputation for his athleticism from a young age, playing in the front row for Southport Tigers’ junior teams against the likes of Vautin in the 1970s when they took part in Brisbane competitions.
Teammate Vince Lawder described “Wardy” as their own Artie Beetson, after the Godfather of State of Origin.
“He was part of the Southport crew,” Mr Lawder said. “There were a few of the boys there and just me and another from Aquinas who joined the team.
“He welcomed us in any way. He had a heart of gold.
“You would give him the ball and he would just go for it, dragging two or three blokes along with him.
“Strong bugger, you would watch like ‘oh my god’. He was our own Artie Beetson.”
“He gave it 100 per cent always and was a credit to the team, a brilliant player but a laugh.
On one occasion before a big game, he was seen “just standing there with a pie in each hand”.
Monique Tobin, a friend of Mr Ward’s for more than a decade, said the loss would ripple through the community.
“He was a dear friend of many, a genuine honest, loving guy.
“I couldn’t believe it where I heard he was gone.
“He would give you the last dollar in his bank account if you would have let him.”
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