Family honours their ‘absolute gentleman’

THE community are mourning the loss of an “absolute gentleman” and “the proudest Tasmanian you’ll ever meet” in a fatal crash near Hobart.

Bill Copping died after police believe he suffered a medical episode which caused his car to crash at the intersection of Lakeland Dr and Lewisham Rd at Forcett on Wednesday.

Mr Copping had been in a near four-decade relationship with the late Shirley Harvey.

Ms Harvey’s son, Bruce, said the pair initially went to school together before sparks flew in their early 40s.

“From about 15 onwards he was in my life and he became a surrogate father for me and my brother Shane,” Mr Harvey said.

“When my mum was in a nursing home he was there every day until she passed. Mum got pretty bad dementia and with us being in Queensland he was there for her. Mum and him were inseparable.”

Mr Harvey said Mr Copping had been a “father figure and a brother figure at the same time”.

“He became a great moral compass and role model ever since he has been on the scene,” Mr Harvey said. “He was just a great guy.” Mr Copping, 77, formerly worked at the Hydro-Electric Commission, now Hydro Tasmania, and pulled beers when he had the time at local watering holes in Sorell.

“He worked at Pembroke Hotel and Gordon Highlander Hotel so he got to know everyone in the community,” Mr Harvey said.

“He also loved to drive. He would take leave from work to give his dad a break from being a courier and he’d drive his truck for him so he could get out and have a look around.”

Mr Copping loved his sport and played footy for Dodges Ferry, Sorell and Copping in his younger days.

A mad North Melbourne fan, he’d been a member of the club’s Tasmania supporter group for the past 30 years.

“I don’t think he has any items of clothing that aren’t blue and white,” Mr Harvey said. “He had an absolute hatred of Collingwood.”

Mr Harvey said after his mother passed they tried to relocate Mr Copping to Brisbane so he’d be closer to family. “While he was fit and healthy he didn’t want to leave there. You couldn’t force him to go, Tasmania is where he belonged.

“He was the proudest Tasmanian you’ll ever meet.”

Mr Harvey said the loss of Mr Copping would be felt by anyone who knew him.

“He’s a bit of a national treasure and a wonderful bloke for what he’s done. He was just a legend of a bloke and good to everybody.

“He was an absolute gentleman. I never heard someone say a bad word about him.”

Police investigations into the crash are ongoing and a report will be prepared for the Coroner.