Brad Mullins, victim of the Kaimāī Range crash, is remembered for his kindness

Jane Mullins said Brad had lived with her since moving to Tauranga in May last year and she had enjoyed learning more about his life and hearing stories about his adventures around the world.

Jane said Brad attended Lynfield College in Auckland and after leaving school worked in various jobs, including as a courier and then in the family business.

In later years, she said, her son worked in the foreign exchange department of the ASB Bank in Auckland and a few years later in the foreign exchange department of the London branch of the world-famous Coutts Bank to save enough money for a 72-day African safari.

“Brad loved to travel, experience other cultures, and have dinner with the locals he met along the way. He visited 69 countries and experienced things that many people can only dream of.

“He spent four years travelling around Europe and Africa, visiting villages, feeding the lions and touring the pyramids of Egypt. And since Brad was quite the daredevil, he bungee jumped from one of the highest bridges in Africa.”

Jane said her son was not working at the time of the accident but often traveled around looking for unpaid jobs to make a difference.

“I miss Brad so much. He had so much potential and never had the chance to realize any of it.

“He had an incredibly tender heart towards others, feeding strangers and helping elderly ladies across the street. He was constantly looking for ways to make someone happy with a good deed. I'm sure Brad touched many people's lives in every way possible.”

She said he often went to the beach, not to sit under a tree or go swimming, but instead to walk on the sand and pick up straws, cigarette butts, bottle caps and other rubbish he found. He also did the same in parks around the city of Tauranga.

“He wanted to clean up the world. By picking everything up, he felt like he was doing just that.

“Brad was a much loved son and brother who made friends with strangers. I'm sure he touched many people's lives and he just loved doing things that made a difference without anyone knowing about it. Well done my son, well done.”

Family friend Marilyn Harris-Taylor, 46, of Henderson, said she has known Brad since she was 13 and their mothers were close friends.

“I was speechless and shocked when I heard of Brad's death. I was on my way to Palmerston North that day and our car drove through the same intersection where the accident had occurred a few hours earlier.

“Brad was only 45 and had so much life left. He was a giver of life and did many good deeds in secret.

“He had a big heart and always hugged you tightly, full of love. And he always looked after me and many others. I still can't believe he died and we all miss him very much.”

A farewell ceremony for Brad was held at Pyes Pa Memorial Cemetery on August 28th.

Sandra Conchie is a senior journalist at Bay of Plenty Times And Rotorua Daily Post who has been a journalist for 24 years. She mainly covers police, courts and other justice issues as well as general news. She was named Regional/Community Reporter of the Year at the Canon Media Awards.