Vale Brad Keegan

BRAD Keegan, who had done so much for so many people throughout the Upper Hunter passed away on Sunday at 6:15pm aged 46.

Brad didn’t like the word ‘disabled’ and wanted people to focus instead on what people’s abilities were.

He had an incredible ability to change the lives of others adjusting to a disability, battling depression and post-traumatic stress and whatever he did, he did it with a keen and dry sense of humour.

Brad Keegan kept his trademark humour until the end.

Lee Watts, manager of the Scone Neighbourhood Resource Centre was saddened to hear the news her friend and co-worker had passed.

“He did so much in the community to make access for people with a disability easier,” Mrs Watts said.

“So many people who have a disability find it hard to get through the system, but he helped so many people find their way through,” she said.

“There is a motorised scooter at our Centre because Brad made it happen.

“I remember when he did the train trip and challenged TrainLink on access to and on board trains for people with a disability.

“He worked with many organisations such as Ability Links and set up an office in Scone, he was on the committee for the Scone Neighbourhood Centre, he worked with many groups, but he was always clear about who he worked for, he always worked for others who needed a hand,” she said.

“He was always up for a chat and made a big difference to everyone he met, he always saw the good side and was a beautiful person inside and out,” Lee Watts said.

Jackson with his dad Brad Keegan.

Brad’s 19 year old son Jackson agreed his father was always passionate about helping others in the community.

“He was very involved with Red Friday and as a former soldier wanted to help others with PTSD, was heavily involved with ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day and for quite a while did a lot of motivational speaking in churches and men’s sheds encouraging those with depression and anxiety to step out and give the world ‘a crack’,” said Jackson Keegan.

Brad was born in Moonie Ponds in Melbourne and moved to Denman in about 1993, where he met his wife Suzie and later the family moved to Muswellbrook around 2000.

Brad had suffered from blood a clotting disorder for more than 20 years which resulted in his legs being amputated and more recently two brain aneurysms.

In the past two weeks Brad had been unwell with what he thought was vomiting and gastroenteritis, but was actually a blood clot in his bowel.

By the time Brad was diagnosed and the surgeons operated in Newcastle his bowel had completely necrotised and he was unable to survive.

“My grandparents came down from Queensland and we all said our final goodbyes and we turned the life support off at about 6:15 on December 4, it was very peaceful and very quick,” said Jackson.

“I was only saying to mum, after I hugged him and told him I loved him before he went into surgery his last words to me were funny, I got tangled in his cords and he was carrying on about it as they wheeled him into theatre,” he said.

Suzie, Darcy and Brad Keegan.

“Dad wasn’t overly religious and he said he didn’t want his family to go to the church and get upset and then have to go to the cemetery and get upset again.

“He also said he wanted it to be a bit upbeat and celebrate his life, so not too much black,” Jackson Keegan said.

Brad is survived by his wife Suzie and his sons Jackson and Darcy.

Brad Keegan’s funeral will be held at the graveside in Denman at 10am on Thursday, December 8.