Talented stockman Dane Sellars remembered

A talented horseman who played a key role in developing indigenous exhibits at Stockman Hall of Fame in Longreach has been laid to rest after being killed in a car crash at Laura.

Dane Sellars died on Deighton Road near Laura on July 28.

A talented horseman who played a key role in developing indigenous exhibits at Stockman Hall of Fame in Longreach has been laid to rest after being killed in a car crash at Laura.

Dane Sellars was driving his Toyota LandCruiser utility on Deighton Road on the evening of July 28 when his vehicle left the road and crashed.

The 33-year-old Laura man was declared dead at the scene.

Manager at Crocodile and Welcome Station Karlene Shephard said she gave Mr Sellars his first position after he enrolled in a beef production certificate in 2009.

“When he left school he came to Crocodile Welcome as we used to run traineeships for Indigenous kids,” she said.

Ms Shephard described the father of two as a man who was skilled at anything he turned his hand to and was considered an invaluable asset to the team.

Dane Sellars was regarded as a natural stockman.

“We had him for two full years and he did multiple jobs in that time, he was really switched on and picked things easily and the cattle and horse stuff came really easy to him because I think it was in his blood,” she said.

“He was really good at anything, with mechanics and even in the office with computers, you could explain things to him and straight away he would get it.

“He (later) started an apprenticeship whip and the Mareeba mower shop and they loved him, they thought he was brilliant.”

Mr Sellars later went to work for Mo Jenkins driving earth moving machinery before spending a stint in the United States doing mustering work.

Returning home, a visit by legendary Aussie actor Jack Thompson to Crocodile Station led to Mr Sellars being involved in advocacy for acknowledgment of Indigenous cattlemen – who played a key role in the early Australian pastoral industry – at the Longreach Stockman Hall of Fame.

“Jack came to Crocodile Station when it all got off the ground and we all flew down to Canberra to meet Kevin Rudd who was the PM at the time,” Ms Shephard said.

Later the proud Olkola man later became a national parks ranger at Dixie Outstation.

Ms Shephard said her former employee through the years had become a huge part of her life.

“He was like a family to us and he came with us on family holidays and family outings,” she said.

“You could easily interact with him, he always had a smile, he was never angry and he just lived his life and always had a cheeky grin.

“We just have to cherish (the memories) now and we have plenty of them.

“His death had a big impact on us and the Laura community.”

Mr Sellars was the partner of Tisha and the father of Tariq and Alaid.

He was laid to rest at the Mareeba Cemetery on August 17.

Anyone with information about the crash that could assist the police investigation, including any dashcam vision, is urged to contact police.

Follow @petercarruther1

Originally published as Talented stockman Dane Sellars remembered