Family and friends of Malcolm Langtree say final goodbye at moving service

Loved ones and mates gathered from across Australia to say a final goodbye to a loveable larrikin who was always up for a laugh and “just put those good vibes to everyone”. TRIBUTE

Mackay man, Malcolm 'Andy' Langtree died in a crash near Booyal on November 17, 2024.

If a man is measured by the friends he has, no more needed to be said about Malcolm ‘Andy’ Langtree as loved ones and mates gathered from across Australia to say a final goodbye to the loveable larrikin who was always up for a laugh and “just put those good vibes to everyone”.

The avid Harley Davidson lover and Rebels club member was farewelled by a crowd of hundreds that included his family, friends and riding brethren.

“Dad, you’re probably up there wondering what all the fuss and sadness is about,” his eldest son Matt Irelandes said in a moving speech on Saturday morning.

“I just don’t think you understand how much you meant to everyone.

“You were always there to lend a hand and make the important events.

“Your smile was infectious and I’d give anything just to hear your voice again.”

It was Matt’s birthday the day before his father’s funeral and he shared this had been his one wish.

Matt Irelandes, Malcolm 'Andy' Langtree's eldest son, speaks at his father's funeral service with his wife Natasha by his side.

“I know that’ll never happen now, but I know I’ll still see you around. In the stories that your mates tell, in your sisters’ faces, in my brother’s smile and in my sons’ eyes.

“We’ll love you dad and we’ll miss you.”

Before the service began, his riding brothers from multiple clubs took Andy for one last ride before returning to Newhaven Funerals NQ where his family and friends shared their favourite memories.

Malcolm "Andy" Langtree Newhaven Chapel Last ride. Saturday 30 November 2024

It was poignantly noted that just over a year ago Andy had stood in the same funeral home making a speech for his best mate David Dirty Collins, who was killed in a crash at Yalboroo in October 2023, his younger son Ben Langtree said.

“He said that Dirty and the boys would be waiting in the forever chapter, with a smile and a wave saying, ‘come on Langer what took you so long?’

“It really wasn’t long at all and I wish your departing time never arrived.

“I know you’d be happy up there with your mates looking back down on us, laughing and saying something cheeky.”

Ben said his dad had the ability to instantly make friends and would “have them laughing in no time”.

Ben Langtree, Malcolm 'Andy' Langtree's younger son, speaks at his father's funeral service.

“You’d always find dad, coffee in hand chatting away with someone with a big smile on his face. That other person could be a group of his mates, an old work friend, a total stranger or the poor cleaning lady just trying to do her job,” he said.

Ben said his father’s life had been great because of the amazing people in his life.

“He just enjoyed people’s company, having a good time, a laugh, a beer, the ocean, riding his bike and seeing his family grow up,” Ben said.

He was remembered as a gentleman, a larrikin, with a great sense of humour who would lend a hand to anyone. Pictures: supplied by family

His sister Wendy recalled the many times Andy would pop into her work for a visit and a coffee, and all the cheeky stories he would tell the workers.

“I had one of the young girls ask me, ‘why were you in jail?’ I asked ‘what do you mean?’ Her comeback was, ‘that man you had coffee with said you always change your last name after you get out of jail’. Thanks Andy.

“And that was Andy, always up for a laugh and a practical joke.

“He was a larrikin that just put out those good vibes to everyone that he came across.

“He just lived life to the fullest and he just wants us to remember all the good times and all the bloody jokes he did to us.”

Friends and family pay their respects to Malcolm 'Andy' Langree' at a moving funeral service. Mackay man, Andy died in a crash near Booyal on November 17, 2024.

Rebels club member Dodge shared his many memories after meeting Andy in 1999 “at the old clubhouse”.

“Andy was telling stories involving everyone, whoever was in earshot and of course they were the punchline and joke at the end,” he said.

He shared how Andy had crafted a memorial piece out of stone for Dirty following his death.

“He was always thinking of others and would do anything for anyone,” he said.

“I’ll always cherish memories in the yards we had over the years, there’s definitely a space that can’t be filled.

“A true Rebel to the very end, a Rebel forever, forever a Rebel.”

Malcolm "Andy" Langtree Newhaven Chapel Last ride. Saturday 30 November 2024

Son visits place where dad took his final breaths

The son of an avid motorbike rider and Rebels club member killed in a terrible highway crash visited the site where his father “took his last breaths”, in his search for closure.

Ben Langtree said he was in disbelief when he got the call about his dad’s death on November 17.

The 31 year old, who lives overseas splitting his time between Canada and Mexico, said, “I couldn’t comprehend that dad had been in an incident.”

Malcolm Langtree, better known as Andy, had been riding his beloved Harley Davidson with a group of friends on the Bruce Highway near Booyal with the crash occurred – the 68 year old had been travelling home after celebrating a mate’s 70th birthday in Nambour.

“He always sits … at the back of the pack and away from everybody and is a pretty safety conscious bloke,” Mr Langtree said.

“He worked in the mines for over 30 years.”

Mr Langtree said he was on a flight back to Australia immediately, and the first thing he did after touching down on home soil was visit the site where his father died.

“I just wanted to see where dad took his final breaths,” he said, adding it had been a nice location and be believed his dad “would have been taking in some nice thoughts”.
“He wasn’t an angry person.”

Malcolm Anderson Langtree, affectionately known as Andy, died after sustaining critical injuries in a crash on November 17, 2024 near Booyal. Pictures: supplied by family

One thing brings him comfort though, words his father had said since he was little.

“He’s always said to me since I was a small kid … if anything ever happens to me, don’t be sad because I’ve had a great time while I’ve been here,” Mr Langtree said.

Andy was a diesel fitter at Goonyella Riverside mines, near Moranbah where he had lived before moving to Dumbleton in Mackay about 10 years ago.

“He was true gentleman and a legend and we are going to miss his stories,” Mr Langtree said.

Mr Langtree last saw his dad in April 2023 before he moved overseas, but said the pair chatted regularly.

“We sent messages every few days about our travels and plans,” he said.

“Dad had a trip coming up … he was going to go back to Vietnam for a couple of months to travel around and travel to Thailand for the bike week over there.

“He goes over there each year.”

Malcolm Anderson Langtree, affectionately known as Andy, died after sustaining critical injuries in a crash on November 17, 2024 near Booyal. Pictures: supplied by family

Mr Langtree said his dad was a big traveller and had only recently come back from a memorial ride to Darwin for his friend and club member David ‘Dirty’ Collins, who was killed in a crash on the Bruce Highway at Yalboroo on September 16, 2023.

“Dad and him have been riding around together for 40 plus years,” Mr Langtree said.

His dad loved riding his motorbike, having taken it up about 50 years ago, he said.

“That was his passion … and getting out on the water fishing as well as snorkelling … he spent a lot of time stand-up paddle boarding,” Mr Langtree added.

Andy was a father of two, and had three sisters and three grandchildren, who he doted on.

“He always just had time for everybody,” Mr Langtree said, adding his dad also had a cheeky sense of humour.

“He was just a kind-hearted person who was willing to give anybody a hand and treated … everybody with great respect.”

Andy will be farewelled on Saturday at service at Newhaven Chapel at 11am. There will be a last ride in his honour from the chapel at 10am.

Originally published as Family and friends of Malcolm Langtree say final goodbye at moving service