Broughton bird corowa death a header crash on Daysdale southern NSW
Broughton Bird died in a header crash
on Daysdale's east property late Tuesday.
A widely regarded grower killed the bumper harvest in southern NSW.
Broughton Bird, 66, died in an accident involving a header on a property he owns late Tuesday east of Daysdale.
Former Corowa Shire mayor and neighboring property owner in the Coreen district, Bill Bott led tributes to a man recognized as one of the nation's leading croppers.
"For a long time he has been widely regarded as one of the best agronomic farmers not only in the Riverina, but right across Australia," Mr Bott said.
"We're having a big harvest and a wonderful season, but it's just a tragedy.
"There'll be shock around the district.
"There will also be a great deal of sadness for someone as capable as what he has been."
Police and other emergency services were called to the property east of Daysdale around 4pm after a header accident identified.
Police reported the man sustained fatal head injury and died on stage.
Header driver, a 54-year-old man, was taken to hospital for compulsory testing.
SafeWork NSW inspectors were on accident scene yesterday and a report will be prepared for Coroner.
"SafeWork NSW is responding to this matter and as a current investigation is taking place no further comment can be made at this time," a SafeWork spokesperson said.
Mr Bird is a major landowner in southern Riverina with his Stratherne South house.
He adopted the two-year storage of canola on his farm, waiting for favorable conditions of sale from the mid-1980s.
Recently, the same approach was implemented for wheat crops with substantial additional storage space at another property he owns at Rennie, Woodlawn.
Federation Council Mayor Pat Bourke said Mr Bird's death rocked the whole district.
"It is an absolute shock," he said.
"It's so devastating for everyone to believe and realize what's just happened.
"It's a freak accident.
"Our thoughts and prayers go out at such an awful moment.
"Everyone is so excited about the outcomes of this season, but then to try and deal with what has happened here is just wrong."
One of Mr Bird's children, Charlie, is Alpine Shire's CEO.
Charlie had decided to leave Alpine Shire after the bushfires last summer before changing his decision.