Tributes for ‘proper Territorian with a big heart’ who died in ute rollover

Tributes have flowed for Tony Hanson, ‘a proper Territorian with a big heart’, who tragically died in a ute rollover.

HIS brother choked through the tears as he selected the three words that best described Tony Hanson.

“A family man,” he said.

As Tony’s family recalled memories of the 40-year-old, it became clear the father of 11 was a devoted son and brother. The Top End butcher was thrown from his ute in a horrific fatal rollover at Dundee Beach on Australia Day.

Sitting on the balcony overlooking the Darwin Waterfront, his mother swallowed hard against the rising lump in her throat. Tears welled as she recalled Tony’s pride the day his eldest daughter was born. 

“The pride (in his kids) you can’t forget that type of pride when it comes out in someone,” Marlene Organ said.

“Any photo you had of Tony (no matter how old) he always had a kid on his hip,” 

Ms Organ said there was a magic chaos that came any time Tony stepped into a home. “If you had Tony, you didn’t just have Tony, you had every stray – human, animal, everything.”

‘A proper territorian’ with a ‘big heart’ .... Tony Hanson, pictured with his youngest son, Indi Miller. Picture: Contributed.

She laughed and wiped away a tear remembering the mad scramble to prepare Vegemite sandwiches to feed the extra bellies her son brought with him.

“You had no idea who he was going to walk through the door with … you turn around and all of a sudden you’ve got an extra six kids walking through the door.”

Ms Organ said Tony moved to Nhulunbuy from Darwin when he was 18 years old and simply fell in love with the place and the people.

The Yunupingu family said the 40-year-old had worked at Gumatj Meats and was “a very good friend to all Yunupingu families”.

“He was adopted into the Gumatj clan by the late Richard Yunupingu … He will be sadly missed,” they said.

Ms Organ said her son’s adopted family was a true reflection of his soul.

“He’s got his boys and he’s been taken out bush and blooded,” she said.

Her voice wavered as she described how his ashes would be returned to Nhulunbuy for men’s Sorry Business.

NT father Tony Hanson, 40, will be farewelled across three different ceremonies, in Darwin, Nhulunbuy and in a Sorry Business bush ceremony, after he was thrown from his ute in a horrific fatal rollover at Dundee Beach on Wednesday January 26. Picture: Contributed.

His older brother Lawrence Hanson said he would be taking part in the ceremony.

“It’s my way to show respect back to them, for taking him in,” he said.

His father, Ean Hanson said he would remember his son as “a proper Territorian” with a “big heart”.

“He was barefoot, pair of jeans and a no shirt, nine times out of 10,” he said.

As a fellow butcher, he said they were always chatting about the best slices, prices and buyers – with their last conversation about a rolled roast.

“He knows a good few butchers up there,” Mr Hanson said looking up the sky.

“We may have got him here, now he’s gotten himself out of this place.”

His mother chuckled as she remembered him charming the customers in the butcher shops, flashing the little old ladies a grin and a “Hello darling”.

“One of a kind that’s for sure.” she paused for a chuckle. “Thank God actually — There’s only room for one.”

Originally published as Tributes for ‘proper Territorian with a big heart’ who died in ute rollover