Goulburn mourns Jarrod Coveney

Jarrod Coveney was found deceased at his Canberra residence on Friday morning. The cause is unknown at this stage.

Those who knew him described him as the sort of person who left a lasting impression on everyone he met.

Descriptors such as “funny, cheeky, enthusiastic, bubbly and a really great guy” freely flowed from work colleagues and friends on Saturday.

Jarrod was working at the Canberra Motorcycle Centre and had a huge network of friends he had met through the Goulburn Cycle and Motorcycle Clubs.

His boss, Dale Brede, said it was really out of character for Jarrod not to check in if he was running late for work and they had tried ringing around to find out what had happened.

Their worst fears were soon realised when he was found at his home.

Mr Brede said they have no idea what caused his passing.

“The staff here are all close and Jarrod was really the face of our off-road sales,” Mr Brede said.

“He had a strong personal customer base and all the staff were really close, so it has really affected us all.”

As word got around of his passing, people who knew him were left shocked that such an energetic 28-year-old would not be around this Christmas.

Goulburn Motorcycle Club Richard Toparis remembered when Jarrod came to do work experience with him and how he stood out as a funny little fellow back then.

“Our friendship has continued and often Jarrod would be sitting in the lounge room with our boys watching motorcross on television. He was a close family friend and it has been really tough for the boys since Friday,” he told The Post.

Cycling companion Cameron Roberts said he was in complete disbelief at the loss of his friend. The two had shared many hours on the road competing and riding as a team. Roberts said he did not know what had happened but would certainly miss his best mate.

Graeme Northey said Jarrod’s passing put a really sombre tone on what should have been a fun night at track cycling.

Greengrocer Cafe owner, Con Toparis met Jarrod 12 years ago. The cafe is a mecca for cyclists and Jarrod was a regular bunch rider.

“He was a very good cyclist and he was everyone’s friend,” he said on Saturday.

“Very few people would be as popular, well-liked and respected as Jarrod. He’d come on bunch rides and engaged on riders’ safety. He loved Greengrocer and Greengrocer loved him.”

Mr Toparis said Jarrod represented Goulburn at interclub and State events and was a great ambassador for the club and the city generally.

On Saturday morning, his fellow cyclists gathered as usual at the cafe and did a special tribute ride for their friend.

“The cyclists are all feeling very sad and devastated,” Mr Toparis said.

“The response from all of the ones I’ve had contact with is they don’t know what to do or say.”  

A heart-felt message on Goulburn Cycle Club’s Facebook page, posted Saturday morning, perhaps sums up the feeling of Jarrod’s worldwide circle of friends:

“Yesterday, tragedy and sadness darkened our doorway with the sudden passing of one of our own, Jarrod Coveney. The ultimate social engineer, Jarrod squeezed a lifetime into the 28 short years he was with us. He touched the hearts of many with his effervescent personality that made it impossible not to like him.

“Jarrod’s passing has creating a ripple of shock and disbelief that will travel across the world as his many friends and acquaintances struggle with the reality of a world without him.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family who are understandably devastated by this. No real tangible sense can be made of losing someone like Jarrod so early in his life. Maybe there is truth in the quote by Lao Tzu: “The flame that burns twice as bright burns half as long.

“Vale Bomber, until we ride together again.”

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