Toowoomba politicians, community members pay tribute to Thomas Coyne after ‘tireless’ activist’s shock death in car crash

Politicians and activists from across the Toowoomba and Queensland communities have paid tribute to a former Greens candidate and passionate activist, who was killed in a crash on Monday.

Thomas Coyne leads the March for Marriage Equality in Toowoomba. Friday, 8th, Sep., 2017.

Politicians and community members across Queensland have expressed their shock and sadness at the sudden death of former Greens candidate and activist Thomas Coyne.

The 21-year-old was the only victim of a horror car crash near Allora early on Monday morning.

Known for his passionate support of marriage equality, climate action and progressive politics, Mr Coyne ran for the Greens in Toowoomba South at last year’s state election.

Federal Queensland Labor Senator Nita Green led a chorus of tributes for Mr Coyne from across the political spectrum.

You don’t meet people like Thomas very often. They leave an indelible mark on you. I met Thomas when he was 17 and leading our ⁦@AMEquality⁩ ⁦@EqualityAu⁩ volunteers in Toowoomba. He was brave, bold and bright. This is just so very sad. https://t.co/dQczrhlKDn

— Senator Nita Green (@nitagreenqld) April 13, 2021

“You don’t meet people like Thomas very often. They leave an indelible mark on you,” she wrote on Twitter.

“He was brave, bold and bright. This is just so very sad.”

His electoral opponent and Toowoomba South MP David Janetzki also expressed his sadness at My Coyne’s passing.

“He was warm, kind and thoughtful. I always thoroughly enjoyed our discussions. Love and strength to his family and friends,” he wrote.

Toowoomba Councillor Megan O’Hara Sullivan said Mr Coyne was an “activist in every sense of the word”.

“One of my first requests as an elected official was from Thomas — he wanted council to recognise International Day Against Homophobia,” she wrote on Facebook.

“We lit up the Victoria Street bridge in rainbow colours.

“I had an official complaint but I also had people contact me and say it meant so much to them; they never thought something like that would happen in conservative Toowoomba.”

Her colleague Cr Rebecca Vonhoff also paid tribute to Mr Coyne’s passionate approach to politics and activism.

“Thomas and I were politically miles apart and we’d debate fiercely but we’d share a kind word at polling booths and a coffee thermos when the hours dragged,” she said.

Former Labor candidate for Groom and fellow activist Chris Meibusch described him as a quiet achiever.

“Wise beyond his years, Tom was all we had hoped of ourselves at that age but didn’t quite manage,” he wrote.

Representative of the Western Wakka Wakka people Patricia Conlon also paid tribute to Mr Coyne for his support of indigenous issues.

Toowoomba youth charity Emerge, led by community leader Jen Shaw, expressed its sadness at his passing.

Former Toowoomba North Greens candidate and disability advocate Alyce Nelligan was one of the first to pay tribute to her close friend.

“Thomas was a bright light in this world — he was relentlessly committed to doing good,” she told The Chronicle on Tuesday.