In his popular column in the Daily Liberal, Mr Saul explains how “Brendy's accident” in Wheeler’s Lane revealed a city waiting with arms open wide.

The Sauls were relative newcomers to Dubbo when they faced the heartbreaking loss of a treasured child.

Nine-year-old Brendan Saul was riding his bike when he became the victim of a hit-and-run driver on January 8 2004.

“We had been living in town only 13 months when the unthinkable happened,” Mr Saul's column in today’s edition of the Daily Liberal reveals.

“From the first moment when dealing with the police, ambos, doctors and nurses, each of them felt our pain and grief.”

In fact, the columnist known to speak his mind says people throughout the city reached out.

“Our greatest strength is the way everyone in town rallies around one of our own, or not even our own, when something tragic happens,” Mr Saul said.

“People dig deep, real deep to find that special something that is needed and nothing, and I mean nothing, is too much trouble.”

Many families “go through unthinkable adversities” in Dubbo, the columnist says.

“Nearly all of them have come out the other side intact,” Mr Saul said.

“And it is largely due to the Dubbo family.”

Mr Saul’s column answers the questions of people who ask him why he stays in Dubbo.

“Most of these questions come from people who don’t live here in Dubbo, don’t know about Dubbo, don’t know its strengths, or its character and its people,” he said.

Mr Saul says the people of Dubbo have made it his family’s true home.

“This town took us to its hearts after our tragedy and let us know that we are not going through it alone,” he said.

The column also recognises Dubbo’s open and honest approach to fixing its problems and the absence of “airs and graces”.

Lobbying by Mr Saul and supporters after the January 2004 accident led to legislative changes in NSW.

Brendan’s Law, which came into force in February 2006, imposed harsher maximum penalties on hit-and-run drivers.