The funeral for a highly respected Armidale livestock agent, regarded by many as a true gentleman who espoused positive values, will be held in Armidale on Friday and is expected to draw quite a crowd.
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Victor Moar, 53, principal of Armitage and Buckley at Armidale, was running for cover last Saturday afternoon when he was hit by lightning and died at the scene, 30km south-east of Dubbo. He had been attending the Geurie Golden Collar Cattle Dog Trial when a line of stoms stuck about 2pm
NSW Ambulance sent six crews to the area. When they arrived, two people were performing CPR but Mr Moar died at the scene.
Data from Lightning Maps, a community-operated project, indicated 4.6 strikes were landing in-and-around Dubbo per minute around 4pm, said a WeatherZone report.
Since the freak accident that claimed his life there has been an outpouring of grief and kind words from many mourners all over the state, both in and out of the livestock industry.
Mr Moar’s funeral will be held at the Armidale Exhibition Centre, 2pm Friday, on the corner of Kirkwood and Coonambe Streets.
Cars can take cover at the centre but are expected to fill the adjacent rugby grounds with further spill-over allowed into the Armidale showgrounds.
Victor and his wife Debbie took over the agency business in 1995 and their son Clancy told the Armidale Express that it was overwhelming to know so many people were influenced by his father, or that Victor had some kind of affect upon them.
He said it made him feel incredibly proud.
“In life he tried to treat everyone equally. If you were selling something for five dollars or five-thousand dollars dad treated you the same,” Clancy said.
“The pride that I feel for my father can’t be measured. When you’re growing up in this town and someone points you out in the street and says, ‘you’re Victor Moar’s son, aren’t you?’, that is something else because you always knew something good was about to follow.
“He will be remembered for a long, long time, but his number one achievement was his family. My dad was severely proud of his boys, Jai, Kane and Clancy and his grandchildren.
“Anytime I’ve talked to anyone about dad, they will always bring up, ‘gee, he never stops yakking about you kids.’
“His second achievement was all the work he did in the livestock industry.”
Victor had an affiliation with livestock since the age of 13, and during his life helped the industry evolve.
“Last autumn weaner sale for Armitage and Buckley he had the largest cattle sale on record for Armidale Saleyards, which was 5009 sold in one day,” Clancy said.
“His third achievement would have to be his being a mentor to so many people.
“He’s helped a lot of troubled kids, a lot of people who want to get into the livestock industry, he’s given them a shot.
“Anyone will tell you that he’s a fabulous teacher.
“Dad had this natural knack of working with animals. Somehow he was able to transfer his ability onto other people. He just gets people, you know?”