Victim’s stepbrother delivers tender tribute

TOM VOLLING

The 37-year-old West Australian was working at Heritage Lodge and Spa before he crashed his Toyota HiLux into Little Creek, along Cape Tribulation Rd, south of Turpentine Rd at Diwan, earlier this week.

Mr Sutherland said his younger stepbrother, who he’d known since he was a oneyear-old, moved cross-country to the Daintree to “sort himself out” about three years ago.

“His death was a bit of a shock. He had a bit of history with illicit substances. That was my first thought – he has taken something bad,” he said.

Mr McCloy, who grew up in Perth, was living with his aunty at Diwan. It wasn’t long before he called the small Far North township his home.

The apprentice chef fell in love with the rainforest and called himself the “Daintree Pelican”.

“He hated spiders until he got to the Daintree. He said he had pets as spiders. He was just a very nature-orientated person and very soulful – just wanted to live free,” Mr Sutherland said.

“He absolutely loved it and we are so thankful to everyone over there who took him in.

“Every time he came home he just couldn’t wait to get back.”

Police are still calling for information about Mr McCloy’s movements before the accident, which is believed to have occurred sometime between 10pm on Tuesday and 2.40pm on Wednesday.

Phone 1800 333 000.