Ian Weir.

Jacklyn Wagner

LISMORE'S face of livestock auctioneering Ian Weir celebrated 62 years in the business this year and 55 years of marriage to his beloved wife, Florence.

He died on Thursday night in hospital on the Gold Coast, where he was airlifted after a two-car collision on the Bruxner Highway near Casino earlier in the day. He was 78 years old.

Tributes flowed from around the region for Mr Weir yesterday as news of his passing spread.

The phone at his family company, Ian Weir & Son, did not stop ringing.

Son-in-law and colleague Neil Short said he would remember him for his honesty and integrity.

“Through church he was heavily involved with charity and community,” Mr Short said. “But his sport and his pleasure and leisure were work.”

Mr Weir broadcast the popular market report on 2LM every week for 38 years, and wrote The Northern Star's 'Off the Rails' weekly column - the last of which was published only yesterday.

In his final column, he wrote: “There is an old saying in the cattle game, 'The roses are blooming again'. I think that applied to the cattle market this week.”

He loved to open a sale and, according to former workmate Darren Perkins, was the only livestock agent never to lose a cent. “He was one of the most respected - if not the most respected - men in the livestock industry that I've ever come across,” Mr Perkins said.

Mr Weir was like a father to colleague Kevin Cocciola, who was just 18 when he started working with the Lismore legend.

“He was brought up in tough times, but if you needed a shirt, he'd take it off his back and give it to you,” Mr Cocciola, 49, said.

“He was my second father. He wouldn't do wrong by anyone.

“He did things properly and that's how he liked things done.”

Mr Cocciola said he had spoken to Mr Weir, whose fierce work ethic kept him from retiring, at the office on the morning of his death.

“He was on top of the world,” he said.

“If you asked him how he felt, he said: 'I'm 78, but I feel like I'm 25 and I wish I was 21.”

Mr Weir had visited the doctor on Wednesday and was given a clean bill of health.

Following a triple-bypass 13 years ago, he had taken to walking 4km each day to stay fit.

Lismore MP Thomas George, a former competitor in the livestock industry, said the rural community had lost a staunch advocate.

“The rural community and the townsfolk have lost a very dedicated rural advocate for not only the rural people, but the battling people as well,” he said.

His wife, Florence, was in the car when the crash occurred, along with their eight-year-old grandson, both of whom appear to have escaped serious injury.

Ian Weir is survived by his wife, two children Glenn and Jenny, seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.