David ‘Warby’ Grant mourned by Eungella community after tragic fatal crash

A Queensland town is mourning the loss of one of their most “generous” and “kind-hearted” community members after he was killed in a shock motorcycle crash.

A Pioneer Valley town is mourning the loss of one of their most ‘generous’ and ‘kind-hearted’ community members after he was killed in a shock motorcycle crash.

A Pioneer Valley town an hour west of Mackay is reeling after a motorcycle crash took the life of one of their own who is being remembered as a “kind-hearted gentleman” who you could call on “whenever”.

David ‘Warby’ Grant was one of the Eungella Community Development Association’s founding members in 1988 and became known in the mountain top town for stopping work at any moment to “help anybody”.

Police were called to Eungella Dam Rd shortly before 7am on March 1 after a local search party found the 61-year-old’s pillion bike down an embankment, where he was declared deceased by paramedics.

Thomas Barrie said Warby was “the best of mates” and “a community man” who would be “really, really missed”.

“It’s going to be a great loss to the community,” Mr Barrie said.

David 'Warby' Grant is remembered as a devoted "community man" after his tragic death in a motorcycle crash on Eungella Dam Road on March 1, 2024. Photo: Contributed

“People used to ring up, ‘Can you come and get a snake’ and he’d go … no one can call him now.

“It’s sad for the people who know him, who knew they could just call on him whenever.”

Mr Barrie said Eungella residents felt like they were now “walking around half mast”, himself feeling “totally wrecked” at the loss.

He said he remembered hearing Warby’s bike “plain as day” coming back from work the afternoon before, later realising “what I actually heard was him having his crash”.

John Cunningham, who found the crash site, had known Warby for 35 years and said “he will be highly missed around the community”.

The motorcycle David ‘Warby’ Grant was riding when he was killed in a crash on Eungella Dam Road on March 1, 2024. Photo: Zoe Devenport

Born in Blackall and having lived in Mount Isa for a long period, Warby moved to Eungella after he fell in love with the gorgeous landscape during a visit.

Warby volunteered his time to cook at the Eungella Community Hub, was a Mackay Regional Council employee for many years, and also worked at the Eungella Chalet and Broken River Mountain Resort.

Former Eungella resident Ian Wright met Warby behind the bar of Eungella Chalet 28 years ago, “and from that day on he and Tommy (Barrie) developed into the best friends I ever had”.

“Warby was a very nice, kind-hearted gentleman … ‘(his loss) sat me on my bum and I’m terribly, terribly sad, ”Mr Wright said.

The rolling green hills of Eungella. Picture: Mackay Tourism

“What else can you say about someone who was so kind hearted to everybody, who would stop work and go and help anybody?”

A flood of condolences followed the announcement of his passing on Facebook, including Cassandra Paton who recalled a time Warby lent her a car when hers “cooked” so she and her kids weren’t stuck at their remote home.

“Warby was the most helpful, kind gentleman and our community was richer for having him a valued part of it for all these years ... Eungella will not be the same without you, mate,” Ms Paton wrote.

Glenn Lambert commented Warby was “the best neighbour , 28 years you could have. Miss you mate, RIP Mate.”

Gaby Muscher also said he was “the best and longest neighbour I’ve ever had 28 year’s , Thank You for everything you have done, your kindness, laughter and beers going to miss you mate RIP Warby.”

A host of others described him as “a true gentleman”, a “great bloke”, and “a lovely kind man”.

Originally published as David ‘Warby’ Grant mourned by Eungella community after tragic fatal crash