THE 91-year-old man killed in a four-car crash south of Trunkey Creek on Friday night has been remembered as a pioneer of Australia's superfine wool industry.
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Bigga man Trevor Picker was driving home from Crookwell after visiting his wife, Janet, in an aged care facility when he was involved in one of three collisions at Junction Point Road, north of Binda, about 4.50pm on Friday.
Police said a white Nissan, being driven south by a 24-year-old male P-plater from Crookwell, initially collided with a northbound white Subaru driven by a 64-year-old Goulburn woman. The Subaru rolled completely over, landing on it wheels off the road.
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The white Nissan then collided head-on with Mr Picker's black Subaru. A third crash occurred when the driver of a northbound Kluger tried to avoid that wreckage but struck the Nissan.
Police said Mr Picker died at the scene. The 24-year-old Crookwell man was airlifted to Canberra Hospital with what police said were soft tissue injuries.
The Goulburn woman was taken by road ambulance to the Base Hospital with minor injuries, along with both occupants of the Kluger, who were from Greystanes.
Location of the crash ...
Described as "nature's gentleman," he is credited with putting the region's wool industry on the map.
His family's property, Hillcreston at Bigga is renowned Australia-wide for its superfine wool growing. The family settled there in the 1870s and the industry has continued down through the generations, including with Mr Picker's four sons - Danny, Murray, Grant and Brett.
Former Goulburn wool seller Ray Moroney said Mr Picker's death was a big shock. He sold Hillcreston wool over many decades and has maintained strong ties with the family since his semi-retirement.
"He was a lovely bloke," Mr Moroney said. "He'd come into the woolstore with all the wool on display and act like any other person. He wasn't stuck up."
It could have been different. The records started tumbling in 1964 when Mr Picker fetched 1800 pence for a pound of superfine merino wool, a world record that stood for nine years. Mr Moroney recalled that the bale was flown to England strapped in tight after the sale.
It wasn't the first. Farmers and Graziers, for which Mr Moroney worked, was selling up to 12,000 bales a day in the Lilac Time Hall, the Goulburn Soldiers Club and the Workers Club.
By the 1980s and 1990s, Japanese, English, Korean and Italian buyers were scrambling for top quality lines.
"World wool record!" the headline trumpeted in 1985 when Hillcrest fetched 17,000 cents for an extra superfine (15.5 micron) merino bale.
He loved his life with Janet. They did everything together. She was always quietly in the background supporting him.
- Ray Moroney
Mr Moroney said there were no airs and graces about Mr Picker; he loved a yarn and was generous in passing on his knowledge to others.
In his younger years he played rugby league for Bigga, as did his father, Sam.
"It all revolved around sheep, football and beer. There was nothing else to do," Mr Moroney said.
Later, Trevor took great pride in seeing his grandsons Joe, Michael, Ben and David play for the Canberra Raiders in various grades, despite being a one-eyed Manly fan himself.
Wife Janet was by his side through it all.
"He loved his life with Janet," Mr Moroney said.
"They did everything together. She was always quietly in the background supporting him. He was just a lovely bloke."
Mr Picker is survived by his four sons, their spouses, 14 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren.
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